I am so delighted. I have been my demanding, high maintenance self and I have found a HVM who sees me for my worth and will do what he needs to do to make me happy. We joked once that all I ask of him is that he continues to surprise and delight me. He said he recognizes that the best things in life take work and he's willing to put in what he needs to in order to keep me in his life because he knows I'm worth it.

For example, he knows I'm really into the outdoors and only want to date men who can share my active lifestyle. This weekend, he came with on an 8 mile hike in the freezing rain and didn't complain at all. He was courteous and fun with my friends. We went to REI the next day so he could start building up the gear necessary to come backpacking with me. He knows I love running in the cold and made time to go on a run with me despite freezing temperatures (and he's from a climate where it doesn't get cold often, if ever).

Similarly, he knows that I adore makeup and spend a lot of time and money to be beautiful. He appreciates that I'm the kind of woman he wants to show off to his friends and when we're in public. He has no problem going in to Ulta or Sephora with me and likes to listen to me talk about the theory of makeup and how it's an art form.

He is so passionate about the things in life he cares about. He has a career that is often unstable and he found a way to have a stable and reliable job with benefits. We're equally educated (both have masters). He's ambitious and wants to continue to grow both in his work and as a person. He also recognises the importance of my work and has no problem with the fact that I make more than he does - he continues to want to pay for things. Today he's meeting me at the airport so he can bring me dinner before I have to fly out for a funeral, just so he can see me for a little bit.

He wanted to make things exclusive from week 3, but respected my boundaries that I'm unwilling to define a relationship until I feel like I really know him (at least 3 months) and I don't have sex outside of committed relationships. He has a strong relationship with his well-educated, professional mother and despite being from a notoriously conservative place, he is progressive and compassionate.

Even if this ends, I feel good about knowing how to set boundaries and expecting to be treated like the queen I know I am. I'm happy and thriving in my life and therefore only want a man who makes my life better. It's wonderful to know there are men who recognise that and will do what it takes to be that.