That is a very interesting passage from the article, Byzantine, thank you for sharing it. I shall check out the link in a short while.

I wonder how much of the inclination to keep thinking above, around, and outside one's marriage or committed relationship for a "better" option is potentially linked to our seemingly never-ending tumbling forward in dissatisfaction with ourselves, not our partner? Or an inability to mitigate those subjective and suspected inadequacies, so much so that the onus of perfection falls on the nearest possible target, one's mate? People shop for things they do not need for the same reasons.

I have no personal expectations of relationship bliss--I never have. I had to learn a great deal about acceptance and hone my adaptability skills in order to enjoy the relationships I've been fortunate enough to have. Sure, a bit of anxiety about whether or not my boyfriend at a given time was for me crept into my consciousness...but not to the extent I felt the relationship was not worth pursuing, or he was "less than" x, y, or z. Those feelings were minimal, and dismissed appropriately so the relationships could progress.

Hints of spring always tug at my heart, so I guess I've got love on my mind...