LDR. You again?

I met a boy. Not on gaydar.co.za or at the gay bar (because you will never meet anyone nice at the gay bar - never ever).  We met through a common friend and discovered that we have a small common network. We had attended the same school - though we did not know each other then.

I crushed on him almost immediately.  He has all the qualities I am looking for in a man: slightly taller,  nice to look at, and not prima facie creepish. As we spent more time together, I discovered that we have a similar sense of humour and a sense of curiosity. Also, he dances like his hips were born in South Africa (which is notable because they were born in Michigan).

He would indeed fetch a high lobola (bride price): on top of the features I have already listed, he knows how to cook like a proper Italian, is well educated and has remarkable skin. If it were not for the fact that I am entertaining at parties, I know how to clean (in theory), and it seems like I will age well, this match would potentially be expensive for my kin. Overall though, I think that the lobola owing to his kin would be higher than that owing to mine, but not by a lot. By less than 6 cows (say). I digress.

Unfortunately, he was kind-of with another guy when we met so I was friendlined (v. past tense. to be dismissed romantically by being labelled 'just a friend'. e.g. Im'a friendline that boy coz I heard he's always scratching his between-the-legs). It turns out, though, that he had a crush on me too so about 7 weeks into my torment (and after it was over with the other guy) he asked to take a nap at my house, and I said yes. We took many naps, they were glorious. We became more intimate and open with each other than I have been with someone for a long time. A happy beginning.

We are both nomads, though, so shortly after our beginning we were (and are) on opposite sides of the Atlantic. And I am back here again - the LDR (long distance relationship). My LDR number 3, and his number 2. My sister asked me once, just after I had announced that number 2 was heading to Europe for 9 months: "why do the guys you date seem to leave the country a lot?" I don't know. When I told him about my current situation, one of my dear bff's offered: "If you are going to have a long-distance one or both of you must be really rich...". Another friend simply advised, "You're screwed."

I know I may be screwed... but it feels so freekin good.