There's thin line between friendship and partnership.

Everyone seems to be aiming at partnership. They try to find the one person, who is perfect for you, who fits in your personality. The one who makes your life whole. The one who is something different than friend, yet she's supposed to be your best friend at the same time.

I have been thinking about partnerships and friendships. Relationships. I know there are something different between friends and partners. Something that makes someone so special, something that tells them apart. But what is that thing? What makes the difference?

I know it's not sex, definitely not sex. Because in that case I would have been dating most of my friends. And usually the longer relationship the less sex they have. At least that's what I have heard.
In my past relationships there haven't been sex. Of course a little bit, because it's something you are supposed to do with your partner. It's normal, because when else people would be having sex. For me it sounds crazy to want and have sex with your partner, but I think it's because I have been with wrong people.

It could be the fact how close the person is to you. The closer the person is to you, the more likely you are in partnership. It doesn't work like that, since usually friends are way closer than your partner. Your friends are the persons who have been there for you every time you need them. They have given you the comfort, helped you whenever you have needed. They haven't gone anywhere even if you haven't talked with them in few years. Your friends have always been there, they haven't gone anywhere. Friendships last longer.

I find it kind of silly to say you are in partnership, if it doesn't actually make any difference. Or if it does, it makes something "less" than friendship. Why would anyone want to be in relationship that's shorter, less intimate, less passionate than friendship?

The best explanation I have heard this far is "the X factor". There are nothing special in that person who you want to date, it's all the same as your other friends. But there's some random x-factor that makes it partnership instead of friendship. Now I just need someone to explain me what that x-factor is.

So can you please explain me, what makes the difference between friends and partners?

Love,
Ambivalent