It has been my experience that this is very possible. Not everyone is going to believe its possible, especially if you've never felt anything close to this type of connection with another person, so it will be harder for some to find it when you don't know what to look for. Needs a lot of internal work to reach this level of openess, acceptance, vulnerability and knowing how to find the same authenticity in the perfect partner.

If this 'always' happens for you, then I'd say you're VERY lucky. I've only ever experienced this once in 46 years, but I'll always keep my heart open to hopefully find it again one day.

Me too, only once. Unfortunately it was taken from me instead of losing it. Reflection is important in recognizing. I hope you find it again one day too.

@Compassion8doubt I've known those 2 guy friends for 27 and 20 years.

The first guy helped me out of religion and I helped him lose 400lbs, I'm his daughter's godfather.

The 2nd guy and I worked 15 hour shifts together for a few years.

It would be awesome to be that vulnerable, open, trusting, loving...with a mate, I know long term couples who do that well. It's inspiring.

takes a long time and consistent work, not really "hard work" tho imo

In my experience it didn't take years to build. When two people meet and they are in the same place, with the same values and the same mindset...and are truthful, honest and willing to be vulnerable and take risks, it can take months over years. Never hard work and feels natural. Perhaps theres a difference when this is applied to a friendship versus a love partnership?

@Hazydays possibly, the only time I felt that connected to a romantic partner was my ex wife when dating.

I still think the more exposure you have with someone the deeper the relationship can be. You can hope and absolutely believe you know how they respond to stressors, but until you've lived through something together it's theoretical. Maybe I'm just biased by my own baggage tho

@educatedredneck so true. We are all biased by our own experiences, expectations and resulting emotional baggage

@Hazydays true, all the in lust hormones are still blasting our bodies after a few months too, personally I question how intimate I feel with someone if I've only known them for a few months.

@educatedredneck that’s always a good thing to question. ?

No. It doesn't always take years. Sometimes you meet some someone and magic happens. It's happened to me once and I can not express how good that feeling.

keep looking

Only the unhappily married I would think

@Hazydays every relationship is a work in progress lol...

@Bigwavedave it surely is

@Hazydays I can only do what I can do. ....I have no illusions.. I have so many friends on 3, 4 marriages. Not my can sustain intimacy....

so true