How are you today?

[marshlander]

Believe me you wlm,I've been very subtle when it comes to this.Do you think a relationship can thrive without sexual intimacy?

Hope you don't mind me gatecrashing to add tuppenceworth ...

I think a relationship (as opposed to a friendship) can survive without sexual intimacy, but that such a relationship would be unusual. I suspect it may be even more unusual in younger people who (if memory serves me correctly ) may burn a bit more brightly.

What often turns out to be difficult, though, is when the aims and intentions of the partners in the relationship turn out to be different. It may seem noble to sacrifice one's needs on the altar of love, but in the longer term most of us need the affirmation of mutuality.

I would second wlm's suggestion that you might do well to consider having a talk about what you both hope for ... as far as you understand it at present. Relationships are dynamic and today's needs may be different tomorrow.

Fwiw, you might need to abandon the "being subtle" thing. Any straight woman would confirm that most men can't take hints.