The first thing I talked about was how I kept seeing couples on sidewalks or in front of commonly entered buildings or generally any pathway which I had to traverse directly. These couples were hugging or giggling amongst each other or making annoying 'kissy-faces' in a sickening fashion, clearly boasting to the world how fortunate they are to have connected two kindred spirits while the rest of the blank-faced populace suffered in solitude. I can basically paraphrase myself as having declared that they should fall into the core of the earth and become crispier than the crispiest bacon on the planet. Now I have interestingly become one of those very people that I once scorned; this can be perceived as both fortunate for me and unfortunate for others still, because it's just an extra set of bodies out of circulation. I admit to holding hands with my girlfriend (sometimes... not always, but that's usually because it's too damn cold outside for bare paws) as I walk down the street, and I admit to kissing her at the door before we part ways and I return home. That's just nice, although I still feel a tad guilty if there are other people around. I'm sure they don't want to see that. I didn't want to see that when I was a bachelor. However, I have not regressed to the level of just stopping in an arbitrary place and professing my love -- not in an unlawful manner, if that's what you thought I meant -- but instead I keep it to pre-designated, automatic spots. So I still see couples in the middle of the sidewalk or another regular pathway doing the same things they did a year ago, and to be honest, I'm still annoyed by them. They needn't be so flamboyant about it. I keep it to out-of-the-way places. I don't even do this consciously; it just occurs that way. I will still proclaim that people should not make the single people feel bad about themselves, so flirtateous folk, please get the hell off the sidewalk and into a private room where you can be irritating only to each other!

The next thing I brought up was the basic principle that "the chase is better than the catch", and more specifically, that one you catch them, you become ensnared in a web of overindulgence. You simply can't get enough of their presence, and you want to rub cheeks with them all day and all night and any time in between. I asked the simple question, "Is this healthy?" At this point, I have to confess that this seems to be the category that I fall under, even several months into the relationship, and I have come to the final realization that it might be a tad unhealthy indeed. We try to stay apart and have our own lives, but something unfortunate has occurred: in the process of developing our own solid relationship, we neglected the ones before it. There is an interdependence that, frankly, can't be all that good for our social nature. We try to escape... but we just... can't... do it! I don't really have an amazing life outside of her, to be brutal upon myself; I suppose I never really did have an active social life beforehand either. That's why this website exists, I suppose. Hmmm... wait a minute... I guess not much has changed for me then! Huh... well, alright. Anyway, the point of this isn't to denounce interdependence (although it does sound bad). Instead, I should just recommend that couples take nights off and have special activities apart from each other, like Ladies' Night or Strip Club Saturdays or something of that nature. It's all good, sista.

With this interdependency (which I still am not proclaiming as the death of me, since I don't have a lot of other things on the go at the moment) comes another possible problem in the future, which follows the final issue that I discussed. If and when the relationship goes sour, will I be able to get back to the way I was before: the handsome eligible bachelor with the heart of gold? For me, it might be easy: I'll just increase the amount of video games and website articles I write. For others, however (yes, I'm thinking about my beloved and sexy audience), it could be much more difficult, considering how many things they had neglected in favour of their significant other. I didn't even mention the emotional aspect, which can often be quite crippling, and for interdependent relationships, it will take more effort to slink out of the post-dumping slump. Some people declare that they will "still be friends" after the relationship ends. We'll see. (As you can tell, I'm not going to give a definite answer there, as only time will dictate specifically what happens, and it varies from person to person.)

This is my point of view circa the beginning of 2008. I'd just like to finally mention that even though I seem to be chewing out my own wacky relationship, I am in no way saying that it's a bad one! In fact, I'd say I'm having a splendid time with my girlfriend. I talked about doing things separately, and this does happen sometimes. She might go to a concert while I stay the hell away because the band sucks... er, I mean, they're not my taste. And Ladies' Nights out? They happen. It gives me ample time to work on that never-ending Final Fantasy VI.