One of the only things I've encountered in life that provides greater joy than sex is the feeling of finding an awesome super underground CD in a $1 garbage bin at the local record shop.
Favorite findings:
Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt, Sad Tropics
Sunswimmer, New Madrid
New Moon Daughter, Cassandra Wilson
I'm not sure anyone can neatly tie up relationships in a little bow on here, or if they can they are a world class philosopher, lover, writer. It's humanity's oldest hangup, the first subject of our music, the basis for wars and religions and suicides. Some people have a detached, dutiful feeling towards relationships, especially the more fundamentalist types. They see a marriage as a contract, and a duty to God, and the 'sentimental part' is tertiary. Others are extravagant romantics, devoting the whole of their passions and agonies to expressions of love, episodes of hot sex and dazzling adventures. Most people are somewhere in the middle of these extremes. I don't think that any one way is right or wrong, as long as both parties are happy and there is no abuse involved.
For myself, I'm definitely a more passionate person. I am a deep feeler, I get rocked with sentiment and fears and all of the other emotions on a daily basis. My partner is a big part of my life, and it was crazy to imagine that when I had the realization. I've always been a loner, fascinated to and attracted to women, wanting sex with a burning need, and by the time I'd met her I had already slept with maybe five women, but the moment you don't just 'have sex' but actually make love with someone, it causes a change in your psyche that you can't really return from. It sets a benchmark for intimacy for your life.
My partner is a cool-headed, serene stoic. She has an impeccable sense of time management, she remembers birthdays and presents and wishes like nobody I've ever met. She's also far more muted in her expressions of love. She won't write a three paragraph message on a forum about romance like I am here, but she would write me a little note on the mirror saying "Have a good day at work, I love you". That push and pull of our different energies gives us so much fuel for our relationship. Someone to chase, someone to be chased. Tale as old as time...