Ygrec >> Love is a completely unnecessary phenomenon. actually would it not be true to say that love is completely essential ? We are social beings. Without sufficient love, babies who are given sufficient food may die. Certainly, if love is not given (and given properly) in very early life, it stunts and damages the person, maybe for good.

[...] When someone really loves you it's not because you deserve it or have done something special for them.
hm, there is conditional love, based on just this; maybe that's not what you're talking about, you are talking about unconditional love. or at least an ideal KIND of love.

[...] And the love of adults for adults is not all that dissimilar from the love of parents for children.
this is interesting. So we mostly remain, deep inside, the children we once were. Yes probably so.

[...] As an adult, one receives love as one deserves it.
you're saying that for an adult, there can be only conditional love? what about the colossal love of children for parents who don't deserve it? what happened to that wonderful phenomenon you described, between two adults, where it just happens? that was great.

not jumping on you at all Ygrec, just that your post started me thinking. Which is where I get into trouble. anyway, just some random thoughts to your post.