What traits are a must in a life partner?

allabouteve

Following on from the stupid and beautiful or smart and ugly thread in AH, its an interesting question...

If looks were a given, what other characteristics must a life partner have? Now, I know most are going to say a good sense of humour, fair dues. But apart from that, what really attracts you to a man/woman?

Is it a sense of fair play, honesty, an intellectual mind? Or is it a love of animals and an ability to get along with others? Someone who cooks? Or someone who's really informed on current affairs?

Personally I like someone with ambition, a strong character and an ability to see the glass half-full. Being compassionate is a given too.

stovelid

All I need is compassion, someone practical that I can rely on in times of sickness or crisis and someone with whom I can cohabit (and raise our kid) in relative harmony.

Couldn't care less about a wish list of personality traits, especially (with the exception of kids) shared interests - I have any number of friends for that.

Orla K

I like something that I call intelligent stupidity which is someone that is intellectual but can just be plain stupid at times, do childish things. Anybody who I would call a close friend, I just get on better with people like this.

Wibbs

Kindness, self awareness, empathy, loyalty and something approaching emotional stability.

stovelid

Wibbs wrote: »

something approaching emotional stability.

How could I have neglected to mention this.

metaoblivia

I've discovered that I have to be with someone who's creative and enjoys traveling/experiencing new cultures and ideas. I like ambition and idealism, and someone who's not afraid to speak their mind.

GirlInterrupted

I find eloquence attractive in a man, and an interest in social justice.

I'm attracted to the company of those who engage with the world beyond what touches their lives directly.

A love of children and animals helps too.

Faith

A sense of humour is the one thing I could not live without. I'd also need my partner to have a relatively high IQ. I need a partner who I can debate with and who challenges me mentally. My boyfriend is always teaching me things and I love it. I'd like someone who can be playful but serious too - someone you can have fun with but at the same time can depend on. He'd have to be able to conduct himself well in social situations too.

Lollipops23

everyone says sense of humour,but for me it needs to be a very particular type of sense of humour!like my OH has quite a dark sense of humour which i find hilarious!
also passion about something like music or politics is very attractive.

Lilyblue

Good looks, Romantic, Funny, Easy Going, Domesticated, Kind, Intelligent, trustworthy and Loyal.

Not fussy at all :pac:

Snowie

not really shore yet

dreamlogic

naturally respectful towards others, ability to express themselves coherently, unique sense of humour, honest and sincere, cool most of the time but able to express emotion without getting irrational

Elle Victorine

Likes animals particularly dogs.
Not too pushed about kids
Patient
Very Loyal
Honest
Can't be a pushover/coward
Intellegent
Well read in any topic really...nothing particular
Someone who can teach me something
Someone who can keep me in check as I have a temper
someone practical


I consider myself lucky cos I got a guy who ticks all my boxes to be honest.

Intelligent, kind, sense of humour, understanding, patient, honest, loyal

monkeyfudge

A prehensile tail!

Oh and it would be great if she lived in a piano.

Disease Ridden

Emotionally stable,
Dark/ cynical sense of humour,
Above average intelligence,
Interest in current affairs,
Romantic,
Trustworthy,
Sweet,
and a rriiiiddddde!!!!!!

Someone with similar ideas about family, fidelity, integrity, respect and cats.
Sociable, independant, easygoing, reliable, passionate, ballsy, shameless, adventourous, active, food loving, kindhearted and physically affectionate.

ciagr297

somewhere approaching emotionally stable
witty/cynical sense of humour
adventurous
intelligent
sociable and easy going
ability to see life from different perspectives (i guess this would be called diplomatic...?)
ambition
loving/physically affectionate

brown eyes

ciagr297

ciagr297 wrote: »

brown eyes

I can, have and probably will swap all my hard won logical criteria, for a sparkling pair of blue blue eyes.

ciagr297

Moonbaby wrote: »

I can, have and probably will swap all my hard won logical criteria, for a sparkling pair of blue blue eyes.

sparkling brown eyes

gets me every single time

although one of my exes did have amazing blue eyes

Otis Driftwood

Someone that accepts me for me,warts and all.

nesbitt

dreamlogic wrote: »

naturally respectful towards others, ability to express themselves coherently, unique sense of humour, honest and sincere, cool most of the time but able to express emotion without getting irrational

+1,

Plus as already said, to have emotional stability. I guess you would have an excellent partner....

monkeyfudge

Oh course I was being facetious with my answer.

Variety is what makes humans interesting, and I'm certianly not going to peg myself down to a particular set of character traits that I'm looking for.

Someone who is more than willing to be a partner in crime with me is all I ask.

togster

Someone who lives their lives to the fullest of their abilities and who is themselves.

Black Swan

Wibbs wrote: »

Kindness, self awareness, empathy, loyalty and something approaching emotional stability.

Add playfulness and creativity to this and you've got Superman! (or Wonderwoman if you're male).

MadgeBadge

Right now, in this moment, I'm thinking I'd settle for someone who used my number after asking for it (why do people do this? :mad:).

But normally, I'd like someone who laughs at my jokes. Someone who's not afraid to show how they feel about me. Someone who's polite,because manners cost nothing, and they're important.

Good kisser, actually, maybe that should be number one, there's alot of bad kissers out there.

Apart from that, I'm fairly open minded.

Snowie

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

Add playfulness and creativity to this and you've got Superman! (or Wonderwoman if you're male).

Or a graphitti artist with a very long record

Quality

Someone I can trust.

dreamlogic

monkeyfudge wrote: »

Variety is what makes humans interesting, and I'm certianly not going to peg myself down to a particular set of character traits that I'm looking for.

This is true, much better not to be too prescriptive. If you click with someone there's usually a certain je ne sais quoi that makes them who they are, very often difficult to pin down in words.
I'd be against that American idea of having a detailed shopping list of physical and mental characteristics. Then again without going to that extreme I think we can all pick out one or two general things that we could never go for. No sense of humour or very different sense of humour being one that I'd pick(same as a lot of people I'd say). I think my other post was actually more about some traits that I liked in past boyfriends rather than being inspired by any future ideal...

idontknowmyname

Someone who:

Has ambition, knows roughly where they want to be career wise
Can make me laugh
Gets my dry/sarcastic sense of humour
Is sweet
Has the same family goals
Likes travelling and trying new foods
Likes socialising but also likes a quiet night in

I'm waiting on this guy- no real physical requirements, just that I'm attracted to him and his personality.

Salome

Someone who is:
Kind
Considerate
Affectionate
Intelligent but not lacking in street smarts
Not afraid of commitment
Not afraid of PDA's
Willing to accept each others differences
Willing to accept my neuroses
Who loves me - warts and all - unconditionally.

And I'm lucky because we found each other.

monkeyfudge

Salome wrote: »

Not afraid of PDA's

Do you find that is a common fear?

spinandscribble

someone who loves me for being me, flaws and all, and of course makes me feel loved.
someone who can make me laugh and isn't always predictable.
someone kind and considerate.
someone who can be open to me about their feelings, good/bad.
someone who cares about my career and dreams and is willing to collaborate to achieve what we both want.
i'd prefer someone protective because i guess i'm very protective of those i care about but sometimes i need to feel safe too.
he'd have to love children (or at least his own lol), i couldn't spend a life without having a family.
someone who doesn't put me down, try to make me jealous or try to hurt me in any way. noone can know always if their actions will hurt another but i think promising not to hurt someone knowingly is a good place to start (excluding if its for their own good if you get what i mean)
someone who i find beautiful and who finds me beautiful (my idea of beautiful isn't about being a model, its about being attractive inside and out). beauties in the eye of the beholder.
willing to accept my neuroses (good one salome)
someone willing to be serious and not always messing around.

yeah long list eh

spinandscribble

spinandscribble wrote: »

yeah long list eh

Only reason I havent posted thus far is that my list would be too long

Snowie

Ive thought about it and this is what i would like in my mrs snowmonkey

fun
smiley
pretty
Understanding
brainy
great sense of humor
stylish
down to earth
Some one who is'nt an effort to get on with!
and can give as well as take ....

Dimitri

I guess the perfect girl would need to be ambitious, passiionate and up to date in whats going on in the world around us, bubbly, energetic and up for a laugh, and would definately definately have to be a doggey person there aint no way i'm living without a pet and i don't trust them cats with their weird eyes..... oh and she'd have to like wearing boots women in boots is my unhealthy obssesion, i can never remember a time when they weren't!