ok. so I am still seeing a couple of guys and one is M. I backed off and was going to ease out of the friendship but he came back sort of gangbusters so what I am aware of is that we have that push/pull relationship thingy going on. although I back off every time he does, we'll go a couple of days without saying anything, then he comes chasing me.

anyway, here's where I am having confusion. on the one hand we are 'friends' (with benefits), although I know I care about him more than he does me. this is what he wants, to be friends and enjoy the moment. (I am ok with friends, finding love would be nice, but am NOT looking for a permanent relationship/marriage) HOWEVER, when he texts me, he says to me 'my lover, babe, baby, sexy, beautiful, I miss you, I wish I could see you right now' things like that, to me. so...are these things people who are friends with benefits say to each other? is he sending mixed signals? or is he saying these things to keep me coming back, OR does he actually like me and scared as hell to say so? we've been seeing each other since March so...to me its not unreasonable to find that a person cares for another in that much time.

I haven't tried to make him the only guy, and there is another that I see occasionally...but so far he's the only one I have actually liked enough to want to see often and talk to. I've talked to a LOT of different guys since Jan, I have used match, eharmony, zoosk, senior dating, and POF. not all at the same time! seems the young guys want a hook up and the older guys are not particularly current.

anyway, was just curious what you all think of the 'terms of endearment' he uses towards me.

something unusual that makes me think this is why he is 42 and never married...he told me that he had considered becoming a priest until he had sex and that changed his mind. in fact I would go so far as to say he did a 180 about his religion as he no longer follows it. I just wonder if there is something in that whole dynamic that makes him unable to put himself out there for a relationship. saying he's an odd person is an understatement, but then he's seeing me so...it's not like he's hit the jackpot necessarily in the 'stable, not an odd person' dept when it comes to me!

thanks for listening...you all are so patient