whats the difference between love and infatuation?

[floatingquoter]

Its not an easy question.

Love is calm. It's not all thunderbolts and pounding hearts. And love still needs space to breathe - you love them but want them to feck off out for a while to give you some peace or stop going on about their latest interest when you're trying to read.

God Louis de Bernieres is a dick.

Love (or more often unlove) is what is left when the initial infatuation dies away, kind of agree with Louis there. Hence the expression "Marry in haste, repent at leisure...".

Agree with NarkedRaspberry too - compromise is the key to love.

Duration.

The heady rush of infatuation subsides, love is what you have when you're really going through life as a team.

The difference?

Not being able to get enough of each other to the point you literally tear your own pants off= infatuation

DP changing your maternity pad because you can't sit up due to an epidural headache= love :)

StellarforStar - I totally agree with that one!

My DH is not a romantic "hearts & flowers" type at all. I sometimes wish he was. But, I've never felt more loved that after having c-sections when he had been there with me - literally holding me up in the shower, helping to take the dressing off etc. Definitely not sexy but full of gentleness and patience and all the things I love about him

Re-reading that - I don't mean that DH is "not sexy" but that the post c-section shower experiences aren't sexy. Obviously.

Ah narked....I think it's lovely. If it a little cheesy

And it would have been nice for queencat to shout at her departing ex (who sounds like a fool who she is better off without :( )

I think 'in love' stays. Infatuation subsides, but I'm still hopelessly in love with DH after 17 years. He's just as bad.

Are the two mutually exclusive?
For a more reasoned resonse I would go with complexnumber

i agree with stellar when i when i first met DH i was infatuated butterflies couldnt sleep the lot now i really love him we have been through bad times and the love has always been there its like a nice comforting blanket
i have have somebody who is always shouting in my corner no matter what love can grow from infatuation.