Compatibility- What Is It?

[sam100]

Hi,

I've been having a chat with a group of girlfriends this week about compatibility particularly relating to romantic relationships and we seemed to have mixed opinions. I wondered how others would sum it up- is it sharing similar interests with another person? Is it the person who is with you and supports you? Is it sexual chemistry?

[AlwaysConfused]

I don't believe compatibility is a science - it just happens.

[Retrochic]

To me compatibility is having the same core beliefs, but not necessarily the same personalities. Often outgoing personalities will successfully link up with introvert personalities, but someone with radical right wing political views is unlikely to be compatible with someone with radical left-wing views. In some ways my OH of 24 years is very different,has some hobbies and interests that just don't interest me and visa versa, but we both agree and support the right to do things on our own. Most of the time when we become 'incompatible' it is due to previous experiences one of us has not had, and the inability of the other person to cut some slack or understand how that has impacted on our personality. I don't think sexual chemistry has anything to do with it,that comes with pracatice ;-)

[snags]

''Compatibility- What Is It?''

This just about covers it:

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s156/snagged_01/relationship.png

[Sqad]

Living a lifestyle with someone, with the least amount of hassle and confrontation.

[grasscarp]

Me and my husband are incompatible. I earn the income and he is pattable.

[-Talbot-]

Compatibility is what happens when your relationship is so stale you can not even be bothered to argue anymore.

[cazzz1975]

compatibility is good for friendships, romantic compatibility obviously needs a little more than common interests. There would need to be some sort of chemistry

[sam100]

Would it be safe to say though that it's ok to have different interests and that you shouldn't expect one person to be all the things you need in your life?

One friend said that her and her husband thought it was good to have different interests whilst a work colleague said she was once dumped by a boyfriend because although they got on well she wasn't a fan of debating politics which he liked to do in a relationship.

Made me wonder if perhaps we rely on one person for too many things in life and perhaps we should have a range of people in our lives that fulfil our different needs and that too many relationships fail as we expect it all to come from one person. What do you think?