Would you *ever* give up your ideal dreams/future/career for your perfect partner?

To state the parameters of this question (as it could be interpreted in different ways):

*Pretend you have not experienced your dream/future/career, i.e. to be an investment banker or to travel around the world. So it is NOT a case of "yeah, when I'll give up my career half-way through". No, it's one or the other.

*Your dream or whatever cannot be finding "true love" or "happiness" or any of that wishy-washy crap. Just definite and specific goals. No emotions included, it has to be an actual goal.

*To reiterate once again, it is a ONE or the OTHER choice. No best of both worlds in this case.

I edited this bit as people are going down the "compromise" route, i.e. they'll take the perfect partner with a not so perfect career. So the situation is changed. NO compromise. It's:

*Perfect partner + ****/no career
*Perfect career + ****/no partner

Also, no exploiting any loopholes.

Thanks. Interested in your opinions.

If it was between my bf (who I consider to be my perfect partner) and my dreams i'd happily stay as I am, working to make ends meet in a job I don't really like all that much. I work to live, not live to work. As long as I can come home to him and we get by i'd be happy.

PM me.

Same could be said to someone who wants a family, they have a family... and then what?

Not me.

A family is different to a career. Once you have reached the highest point in your career, there is no furthering yourself. With a family, it will keep growing and there will always be higher points than the last, seeing your childrens first steps, watching them graduate, walking them down the aisle, seeing your grandkids. There's never any boundaries when it comes to families..

The concept is that you are putting career before family. It does not say that you would never settle down. You could have a successful job, money and also someone. It is about the point where that person comes into your life and where abouts you prioritise that. Turn the idea on its head what is the point in compromising a really successful job for the sake of a relationship with a "perfect" partner who you may not be with in 10 years time and by then may not be able to pursue your career to the same level should you have other financial, family commitments.

I have. In fact, it's what has led me down the path I am at now. But what I'm talking about here completely transcends it. I don't expect you to understand, because if you did, you wouldn't be asking me such a question.

Onve you have family, generally you are supposed to have some people who cares abouty oua nd will always be by your side. You send your kids to go to school and watch them grow up and achieve good results in exams. You will encourage your kid to do whatever he wants to do (only good things, of course). Once you get older and older they come round and visit you, bring in your grandchildren who will run around in the house and make you laugh. When you get really old, you have a big family, you get to live to tell the tales to your grandchildren about when you were young and what you experience in your whole life. (You can live that long if you choose career, too )

A family is different to a career. Once you have reached the highest point in your career, there is no furthering yourself. With a family, it will keep growing and there will always be higher points than the last, seeing your childrens first steps, watching them graduate, walking them down the aisle, seeing your grandkids. There's never any boundaries when it comes to families..

No. Biking is my life.

It has shaped everything about me, and however perfect I think said person is, I'd take biking every time.

Edit: Good question by the way, ISA.

Even though I voted I'd choose my partner, this is a really naive and oversimplified view of what it is to have children.

Who says they will necessarily graduate, walk down the aisle or have children?

How is it naive? I would love my family to be like that. Of course having kids is not as easy as I said. They aren't necessarily going to graduate, walk down the aisle or have children. I would not force them to do that either. But I was just suggesting that this is what you could potentially get from having family and not from career. I was just trying to portray the benefits of my decision to choose partner. Not all families are like that but it does not mean it's impossible. :P ... Also ISA was saying that ''having partner and family and then what?'' so I told her what could happen after that. I just only stated the good things that could happen, that's all.

There is no limited to being happy with family, but for career once you reached the highest point then there is nothing you can do further.

Still, in reality, people will try to keep both. (I will definitely try, but in this question I will choose my partner.)

But what if you were in an accident whilst biking and you couldn't do it anymore. Then you're left with nothing.

(Clearly I hope you don't have an accident)

Who says they will necessarily graduate, walk down the aisle or have children?

Would pick perfect career every single time.

Surprised by the poll results, would have thought ideal future > perfect partner given its TSR.

A family is different to a career. Once you have reached the highest point in your career, there is no furthering yourself. With a family, it will keep growing and there will always be higher points than the last, seeing your childrens first steps, watching them graduate, walking them down the aisle, seeing your grandkids. There's never any boundaries when it comes to families..