Ideal Partner

• checks in with me to see how I'm doing, because he wants to, not because he thinks he should
• be genuinely interested in what is happening in my life/work
• be understanding if I have to work late and can't see him on a certain day
• be flexible in terms of his own schedule so that we can see each other more
• plans things with me often, whether it's dinner or a weekend hike or something else to do
• plans when he'll see me next in advance (before he leaves) so that I can also plan things on days I'm not seeing him
• tells me ahead of time if he has plans
• shares with me what's going on in his life, importantly his worries, challenges at work, things going on with his family
• comes to me/relies on me for advice/suggestions with challenges/issues in his life
• communicates to me often how he feels about me
• leans on me as much as I lean on him for emotional support
• communicates in an open, honest, and direct way if he has anything to bring up/during arguments
• not be dismissive, condescending, or say any unconstructive things during an argument
• not afraid to show his emotions during an argument
• forgives when an issue has been discussed and resolved
• surprises me from time to time to show how much he cares about me