I’m in the best LTR I’ve ever had right now (because it’s post TRP) and it’s been an overall value add. Her SMV is currently high - but we’re both 31. Being asian she still looks amazing, but my SMV is still increasing while hers will only decline from this point. She has told me multiple times I’m the first time she’s dated up, and to be honest our SMVs were equal, but that will change. I do think it’s possible that I will want kids eventually, but not until I’ve accomplished all necessary personal goals. She’s starting to make it clear that she is ready to move towards a longer term commitment (she brought up moving somewhere together - we both work remote). On the one hand - she is a great gf who has most of the qualities I’d want in a long term partner. On the other hand there are some red flags, the most obvious being daddy issues. Being one of the most rational girls I’ve come across, it’s rarely affected our relationship, but I’m noticing more and more her need for my validation now that her emotional wall has almost completely dropped. Unicorns do not exist, and nobody is perfect. This is probably a manageable red flag long term based on her personality type, but the thought still lingers in the back of my mind. I know it’s almost impossible to escape oneitis in an LTR even if educated in TRP, so I know my judgement is clouded by emotion to some degree. The laws of nature state that I will become less attracted to her over the coming years, while I am in a position to continue vetting younger candidates as I work in increase my SMV.

We’ve been dating a year, and I don’t regret it at all. The relationship is still a net positive impact on my life, but her escalation is starting to bring me to a decision point. I just can’t tell which I will regret more - dating her for another year, or letting a very good LTR end. I almost feel like I’d be doing us both a favor, letting her go while she’s still very attractive so she can lock up some guy who’s willing to commit, and I get to go back to spinning plates and vetting candidates. The grass isn’t always greener... but sometimes it is.

Has anyone been in a similar position?