One of the things I've noticed from friends, and just reading decades of magazine opinions is that people have timetables for events, with goals. Those have to become explicit or things fall apart. eg. Engagement by a certain date, marriage by a date. The reality probably is that we have these dates, but aren't aware of them. Maybe we should collaborate on them? You sound clear that there in not going to be a bond, so it's only fair to say so, instead of stringing each other along. I didn't appreciate being strung along, and being called a "special friend", without the freedom to live my life as though there was a relationship with any hope. A cousin told me maybe Miss String-along was having her ego stroked, and that angered me, but put things into perspective so I could seek meaningful relationships. I guess sometimes the truth hurts, but to add another cliché, the truth will also set you free. I succumbed to pressure in the grocery marketing area, so I bought enough sugar for years, since it was on sale. Pressure's only useful in desparate situations, but what's the hurry here?