Actually, I don't dislike anyone here.
I just want to point out that dating is NOT always about getting married. If you put marriage into it right away... oh boy. No one likes that kind of pressure.
Let's put it this way: I may not have had the qualifications of the original poster, but at 20 years old, I was 5'4, 115 lbs, with waist length hair. I was in college with a scholarship, though not a full scholarship, and I worked besides. I didn't get all As, but I did take school seriously. I also had a ton of friends, and went out with them a lot, as a group.
I dated a few guys, and had had a few serious relationships by that time (don't ask, it's a long story), but mostly, I was having fun. Dinner, a movie, a walk downtown with a guy... these were GREAT dates, whether I wanted to marry the guy. I mean... if nothing ELSE came of it, at least maybe I'd have a good friend!
My ideal guy then was 6'4, blonde (preferably curls!), nice body, had a degree or was working on one, took work seriously, cared about his family and was nice to animals. He had to like to read books, but like going clubbing too. He had to have fingernails he didn't bite, had to remember birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, etc. He had to know how to cook, clean and iron. He had to be willing to see me at my ugliest (like when I was sick) yet still think I was the MOST beautiful woman in the world. He had to like kids, know the difference between two, too, and to, and not drink too much. He couldnt' do drugs and had to make time for me no matter WHAT his work and school schedule was. He had to call me every day, and be willing to make do with only a kiss until after marriage. He had to be smart, funny, handsome, a gentleman, a poet, a rogue, willing to defend me at all costs, even if I was wrong... he had to be PERFECT.
Most women are looking for Aragorn. Guess what? He doesn't exist!
The man I married is 5'6", and kind of chubby. He shaves his head, because he's losing his hair. He's smart and funny, but doesn't have a degree. He does, however, have a good job and good ethics. He wasn't willing to make me a princess and give me everythign I ever wanted. He is, however, willing to do absolutely anything to make me happy when I'm having a bad day. He's not a poet, but what he does say is honest and heartfelt. He probably couldn't beat anyone up for me, but he'd try if it meant saving me from something bad. He YELLS at me on a regular basis, but usually because I'm being dumb. He's practical about the things I get dreamy about, and dreamy about the things I'm practical about. We COMPLIMENT each other.
Is he my dream guy? You betcha.
Is he the guy I thought I'd marry at 20? No way! I HATED him for the 1st six months I knew him. He made sexist comments and jokes the first night I met him and he threw me in the snow! I thought he was arrogant and a jerk, and he thought I was too much of a flirt and that I got upset too easily, and was too much of an idealist. We kept getting thrown together, though, because we had the same group of friends.
What I'm saying, by telling you all of this, is that you CAN NOT KNOW who is marriage material by meeting someone, or going on a single date with them. People just aren't the same person on a first date, or the first time you meet them, as they are in their everyday lives. Give some poor guy more than one chance to show you that he's marriage material.
