Are You Compatible?

Falling in love with a woman does not mean that the hard part is over.

You may think that the journey from getting her number to asking for the first date to that first time in bed together was hard on your nerves, but just because you are crazy about her does not mean that you are compatible.

As a matter of fact, the reason that many relationships break up are that the couple is incompatible on a few major issues or even some smaller ones.

Compatibility is not over-rated. Opposites that attract often have an uphill battle when it comes to staying together. So what kinds of compatibility issues are deal breakers?

First of all is the question of travel of all kinds. Are you the kind of guy that likes to jet all over the planet to unique destinations or are you the kind of guy that gets nervous just thinking about foreign food, airports and people speaking an incomprehensible language?

The next part of this is what kind of a person is she? If she wants to go and you hate to, then it is definitely a serious compatibility issue. The choice of living arrangements is also key. If she is a city girl and you are a country boy, there could be problems.

If she always wanted to raise a family in her hometown and you want to live in a slick co-op in the heart of the big city, you might have another compatibility issue.

Of course, the big one is compatibility when it comes to interests and hobbies. Some couples do learn to compromise. She goes to NASCAR races with him and he goes to the ballet with her. But often it can be simpler than that.

Do you like to spend your weekends the same way? If you have extra money, what type of activity are you going to want to spend it on and what will she want to spend it on?

Couples should spend time together and time apart, but if you have nothing in common when you are together, the time apart is going to win out.

Family background is not as important of a factor as it used to be in the past when couples became acquainted. Nowadays, anyone can meet and marry just about anyone else, and family background is not usually a deciding factor. It is something to think about if you are getting serious about her, though.

What is your family like and what is her family like? Can you tolerate spending time with her family and friends, and would you want these people in your life forever?

You may choose your future spouse, but you definitely don?t choose the family they come with, so compatibility in family backgrounds is not something to take lightly in a relationship.

Other areas of concern for compatibility can include your personal feelings about religion and your level of spirituality, financial goals, professional goals and of course, the big questions, how both of you feel about marriage and children.

Compatibility is something each couple should investigate in a relationship that is turning out to be serious.