I dont think that having things in common is very important but i do believe that having some of the same feelings is important if that makes any sense to you

Update
 

My ex called me out of the blue the other night and invited me over for a barbeque and a get together to watch hockey. (Go Sens go!) I spent the night . . . things went well. I think we might have ironed out our differences. Thank you all for the great advice!

Been married some 39 years and my wife and I have always found that working at being supportive of each other bridges things that we otherwise don't have in common. Still differences; but we compromise and keep moving on. Guess something's working for us cuz I wouldn't trade her.

My wife and I have been married for 37yrs.I always said that we're just like magnets-likes repell & unlikes attract!We respect;
each others wishes immensely!Yesterday was my nonalcoholic anniversary;9yrs11mo.I am an alchoholic(sp)I know it isn't supposed to be the reason;but I quit mainly because of my wife&
daughters!You have to decide if the other person;has the inner
self;that you want to spend your life with.If the other person is a
good person it makes it all worth while.No two people are exactly
the same.What matters is compromising and having mutual respect.It's easier to quit than to make things work;that's why there are so many divorces! Irish
P.S.My $.02.

Congratulations on the anniversary, Irish! The middle of June will mark 10 years!

It is indeed easier to quit thank keep trying. So far, things have been working out between us. We're both busy and live 100 kms apart but I'm making time to visit him this weekend.

Steph---Thank You!June 15th to be exact;I have it marked on my
calender!I had a lot of good times drinking and met a lot of good
people.It had to be done!I'm not against alcohol.It's just that some people(ME)shouldn't drink it.I never could stand "Drunks";
but I loved to get high.20-30yrs is a long time to be "High!" Irish

Also, Irish, my congrats on your non-alcoholic anniversary and your words of wisdom! Well put.

I've often ponder the same thing Steph. I made up my mind that it needs to be a happy medium of the 2. Have some things in common, but also accpet the differences and adapt. If you can't adapt, then thats what you decide. Too much in common can be a bad thing, as well as too much difference. A good friend told me that relationships are 50/50 in every way. You both bring something new to the situation but at the same time, bring common interest to make up for the things you can "tolerate" but maybe not like. I took it as good advice and it actually made me change my way of thinking about differences.