Top 10 signs that she's a keeper

by Jonathan Carlson

I must admit that playing the field is a whole lot of
fun, but so is being in a serious relationship --
provided that it's with the right woman. But how do
you know if she really is the right woman for you?
If she possesses the following 10 traits, my advice is
that you hold on to her for dear life. You don't want
to run the risk of having some other guy swoop down
and steal her away from you.

10. She's independent
No one wants a girlfriend they have to baby-sit. Once
in a while -- like if she's had a rough day at work --
it's great to be her shoulder to cry on. But if she
can't seem to function without you and is constantly
after you, she will eventually make you feel like
you're suffocating, which is a surefire way to get you
running for the nearest exit. On the other hand, if
she has her very own personality and opinions; can
stand on her own two feet, both financially and
emotionally; and is able to enjoy time away from you
(while still missing you, of course) then she must be
a great girlfriend.

9. She's intelligent
I hate to be the one to tell you this, but the bimbo
routine gets real old, real fast. A woman who can meet
you at an intellectual level is a total turn-on.
Instead of being the one in total control, you'll find
yourself trying to figure out what's really going on
in that brain of hers.
An intelligent woman will constantly surprise you and
keep you on your toes -- she won't let you get bored
of her. Besides, it's nice to have something to talk
about when you're not, er, otherwise occupied.

8. She's sexual
A great girlfriend has to be sexually compatible with
you. For instance, if you're the hardcore leather type
and she's the dainty lingerie type, well, that could
be a problem. The two of you have to be on the same
page -- or she at least has to be willing to expand
her sexual horizons from time to time.

7. She's beautiful
I know, this one is kind of obvious, but important
nonetheless. A great girlfriend will not only want to
look good for you, but also for herself. She should
always look her best and be well put together.

6. She respects you
This is a biggie. Your woman must respect you. This
means that she listens to you, even if she doesn't
necessarily agree with what you're saying. And, of
course, she never tries to demean or belittle you in
any way, shape, or form.

5. She lets you be a man
Do not -- I repeat -- do not get involved with a woman
who tries to get you to eat cottage cheese and fruit
for breakfast and insists that you give up poker night
with the guys. You will end up resenting her more than
you can imagine. A good girlfriend lets you be a guy
in all your glory, poker night and all. If she's a
great girlfriend, she'll even bring you and your
buddies a couple of beers and make you some of her
famous sandwiches.
She has to understand that men and women are different
and should allow you to be yourself. Just like you
wouldn't deprive her of going shopping with her best
girlfriend, she shouldn't expect you to give up the
guys for her.

4. She's nagless
There is nothing worse than a nag! A great girlfriend
knows this and chooses her battles wisely. She knows
when to speak-up and when to let it slide. You don't
want a girlfriend who will give you the heights of
hell for leaving a couple of dishes in the sink
occasionally.
However, if you live together and you stay out all
night without calling her, and she lets you have it,
then you're setting yourself up for disaster. This is
a situation that nobody would let slide -- not even a
great girlfriend.

3. She gets along with friends & family
A great girlfriend will not only help your mom in the
kitchen, listen to your dad's stories, and hang out
with your friends, she will enjoy it. She'll make a
real effort to get to know and love the most important
people in your life. And she won't try to get you to
ditch your best buds.
She'll actually empathize with your brother's getting
dumped and suggest that you guys take him out to cheer
him up. Not only that, but your friends won't roll
their eyes and moan when you mention that she'll be
joining you guys when she gets off work (yes, women
like this do exist).

2. She loves you
If you have found a woman who loves you for who you
really are and not who you pretend or try to be
sometimes, you should definitely hang on to her. A
woman who doesn't try to change you is hard to find.
Of course, everyone has their slightly annoying habits
that their mate has to contend with, but if she really
loves you, she will be able to cope with these.
Another way to know if she really loves you is by
observing the way she looks at you and treats you on
an everyday basis. If the sight of you doesn't seem to
faze her either way, and she doesn't really seem to
care about what you have to say, she's either playing
very hard to get, or sees you as just some guy. But if
a surprise visit or phone call from you makes her
light up, there's no denying that she loves you.

1. She makes you want to be a better man
Stop making that face... Any man who has a great
girlfriend or wife will tell you that she makes him
want to be a better man. She doesn't have to say or do
anything; it just is that way. If you suddenly feel
bad about how you treated your sister or find yourself
trying to get your finances in order, you might want
to think about your motivation for doing so. It could
be love.
do you already have her?


From: Lopez, Just
Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 9:04 AM