Does anyone have any experience of this, or is in one perhaps? This seems to be the most fitting title for what I have with my friend. I'm not sure why I'm putting this here but it's the only forum I frequent often and I just wanted some feedback since there is very limited resources to be found about it and pretty much nobody gets it.
An intensely emotional love relationship between two unrelated people, in which sexuality is unimportant and typically absent, but there is greater physical affection or poetic communication than is typical for friendship.
The term romantic friendship refers to both very close but non-sexual relationship and at times physical relationship between friends, often involving a degree of physical closeness beyond that which is common in modern Western societies, and may include for example holding hands, cuddling, and sharing a bed


We're not going out, but that isn't my side of the deal because if it was up to me we would be going out. I am 'sexual', I want a girlfriend and all that stuff, but she isn't sexual yet she's like a year younger than me but I don't think that matters at all or counts for anything here. It's just an individual thing, she says she wouldn't want to 'go out' with anyone right now because she just isn't sexually attracted to anyone. But I don't think she's asexual. Anyway, more to the point, I am happy with things how they are but I would also be happy with 'more' ... You know just a teensy bit happier because we basically do all the stuff that going out people do other than kiss properly and boink each other.

So we cuddle, sleep in the same bed sometimes, we love each other a lot and it definitely  fits the idea of a romantic friendship- for some reason I just want a name for what we have and perhaps feedback from others in a similar situation because none of my friends bar her sister and family in general seem to understand that we can behave how we do and not be going out, and they definitely could not grasp the concept of a romantic friendship and don't understand when I explain that we're just friends.

She is however the most amazing person ever and is the reason I could come out anyway, and also got my mum to be ok with my name (Devin) and I don't know what I'd be doing without her.

I have something sort of similar with a friend of mine.  I know that in our case, neither of us would want to actually date or have a sexual relationship with the other person, but it's comfortable enough that we don't care about what it is or isn't.  If you're happy, what does it matter?

That is very much so like what's going on between me and my significant other, I just never had a good word for it. I just called it "more that friends with benefits, less than dating". We only have sex a handful of times a month, but spend almost every night together. We cuddle, kiss, say all sorts of mushy gross things to each other when no one else is around. But we  are perfectly capable of shutting that romantic aspect off and just behave like regular guy friends.
We are also not entirely monogamous. We are both allowed to do as much harmless flirting as we want with other people, but if either of us wants to become physical with another person they MUST ask for permission. Our emotions are very reactive to what the other person is feeling, and we care very deeply for each other.  Anyone who sees us together assumes we are dating, but we do not use specific titles like "boyfriend" when describing each other.

Quote from: C.J. on April 03, 2011, 07:21:20 PM
I have definitely had feelings like this for a woman. It's really intense, and it's good, as long as you are both honest with each other about the feelings. If not, other people/issues can get into the mix and that intensity will turn wrong and rip the life out of both of you.

I would just enjoy it for what it is, honestly. What you do and do not do with her isn't anyone's business (the ones who comment that they don't believe you're not going out).

This.