How long was your shortest relationship?

If I am looking for a long-term relationship, how should I go about starting one?

• Let me explain what I am looking to do: I don't like the idea of dating one woman a week or month and moving on to the next one.  I want to settle down and seek a long term relationship.  But from my humble experience, in order for a long term relationship to take place you first need to date for a few weeks or maybe even a month to know if the person you are with is a match for everything or most of what you are looking for.  Obviously, if you know someone for a while you can ask them out because you know what they are like but if you don't have that kind of a person then you have to go out and date.  So I am not sure if I am over-thinking this or what but I am not sure how to address this.  I imagine myself on a date and telling the person that I am only looking for a long term relationship but I can't expect that from either of us unless we know we are a match.  So, how should I go about this and how should I let the other person know?

• Answer:

  l think you are putting too much pressure on yourself.  You have a goal, but that doesn't mean that you have to accomplish this by next week or next month or even next yr.  Once you realize this, you will be able to relax and be more natural and yourself.   Now that you know what your goal is, you need to rethink.  You have already said that you aren't really interested in dating for a few months and then going back to square one when things don't work out.  So now is the time to think about the women you already know.   Who did you like in high school? College?  has your friend broken up with a woman that you really had a connection with, and now she is free?  How about work? How about the friends of past gfs?  Make lists if you have to.  Go through networking sites, Browse your old yearbooks.  See who interests you, who has a spark.   You must know at least 200 women, even 100.  Realistically, there has to be 1 in that group that you could see yourself with, who is also looking for commitment.   Go forth and make your dreams come true.  You are way ahead of the curve, you already know what you want, and that you want to acheive this by honest means.  Best of luck in the New Year.