Soul Mite

I'm a 36-year-old guy who's dated some great women but ended most of my relationships around the six-month mark. I wasn't concerned about this until I was talking about how cool my girlfriend of two months is and my married buddy looked at his watch and said, "Yeah, bummer. Only got four more months of her." I had a long relationship in my 20s, so I don't think I fear intimacy or commitment. Do I need therapy? Or is this one of those things where, if you're happy, you ignore the criticism?

--The Transient

You look deep into a woman's eyes and whisper those magical words: "I want to spend the rest of my month with you." Well, long-term relationships aren't for everyone. Along with the benefits come the tradeoffs, like having to give up the suspense and buzz of the new for the comfortable old slipper of stability. It's okay to be unwilling to make that tradeoff, provided you aren't just covering for a bunch of unexplored fears. The problem comes in letting women believe that you have the potential to be Mr. Right when you're most likely Mr. Lite. Unfortunately, some will see your pattern of succumbing to Restless Boyfriend Syndrome as a challenge to domesticate you. To keep things from going ugly, you might gently remind them that you're looking to be there for them in good times and good times -- and that someday their prince will run.