Tags: dating, singles

My current guy is a big time anime fan. He doesn't even watch regular TV anymore, and rarely goes to the movies. This is all fine with me, he's got his interests, and of course I have mine. I'm more into South Park, Harry Potter, sushi, 80's teen movies, my iPod, traveling, really all kinds of stuff. What initially attracted us was a common interest in music which is still there.

However, he is concerned about our long term potential because I'm not into anime the way he is. I've sat down and watched some shows with him, I even liked one enough to ask for a copy, but I guess I haven't gushed with adoration over his anime collection. He's worried that if we don't share in that interest that we won't be able to go long term. He even pointed out that he's been watching some of my things and tried to get into the things that I'm into. However, I never asked for that.

I'm not looking for a carbon copy of myself, I don't want to date my clone. If we like some of the same things that's great, but there's something to be said for time apart as well as time together. I think most successful couples have some common interests, but they also have a life outside their relationship. He worries that we won't be able to sit down and watch the same thing on TV, and my only concern is that he's unable to compromise.

I don't like feeling like I have to like anime, and that I have to like it in order to keep someone I care about around. I would never expect anyone I date to suddenly be as addicted to South Park and Harry Potter as I am, or to suddenly feign a liking for Bjork when I know they can't take her voice. I don't expect that out of a relationship, but am I deluding myself? How important are common interests to a successful relationship?