While some people may over  look the idea of being in a happy relationship a dream, we sure didn’t. Dreams come in all shapes and sizes so we didn’t want to leave out those who are looking to build a better relationship with the one they love. Christopher Lee Espinal shares his story, tips and advice on why he’s latching on tight to this red head beauty!

I honestly could not begin to write the ten commandments for a great relationship. I could try but it would be planned and organized and that really isn’t what a relationship is about. I think the key to my current relationship is the fact that we are very spontaneous and also because I know my Lover-Rama-Mama for almost four or five years now. I think our friendship before our relationship had a lot to do with the success of us actually being together. This helped tremendously because we kind of already knew what the hot and cold buttons for each other were. I think it helps when people can break through the ice of a first encounter on a platonic level before becoming intimate physically or mentally. It helped us a lot. I knew after three years of being friends what makes her laugh and what she enjoyed or didn’t enjoy and once I knew that I just kind of played along. I think it is important when two people fully understand each other: what they expect from a relationship and what the boundaries are. As friends, the conversation is much more open and free. That’s how I found out all of this vital information that helped me lock her up! (I’m kidding I still don’t know everything).

We are very similar in a lot of ways: we each have our own styles, we laugh at the same things, we are both very natural and do not try hard to fake anything, we are both very up front and honest (something that is key in any relationship), and we both strive to be successful in anything we decide to do. I think in every relationship both sides should contribute financially and emotionally, it should never be one sided. I have always felt this way and will continue to feel this way no matter what anyone says. If a man feels that his wife or girlfriend is a financial burden, that resentment will create waves through the entire relationship. Most women argue with me about this but its true! Let me be clear, a man should always take care of his woman (dinner, drinks, movies, rent, the essentials) but when a woman steps up to the plate and out of no where purchases something or comes home with groceries or ice cream or toilet paper its like the greatest thing since Xbox! These small actions completely revitalize a relationship because the man feels like he actually has a partner, a team player, a contributor and not a leach looking for handouts. People always tell me money isn’t everything but when two people are bringing home the bacon it makes your relationship more of a bond than a responsibility.

I also think that an active social life is an absolute must for a relationship to survive. I think both partners should interact with each other and with their own friends. I always hear sob stories about our guy friends who have disappeared into a relationship and never to be heard from again! I hate it when that happens because you lose touch with people that were there for you before you found this great person. Its not fair. Not only that but when a relationship falls apart the first person you call if your best friend looking for a shoulder to cry on. Why not incorporate your friends into your relationship? I agree this does not always work but it should be on the top ten to do list when you decide to throw away the key on your ball and chain. You should continue speaking to your friends. You should go out once a week with them and chop it up and talk about your problems. Its therapeutic and necessary. I love my girl’s friends and whenever we do something I always ask ‘Is Dana coming? And Jose? And Katarina? And Jas?’. Sometimes I think she thinks we can’t go anywhere with out them.

Finally, I think age has alot to do with the success of our relationship. I think as I got older the need to be out there experimenting dwindled and what I really wanted in a relationship became crystal clear. While this rule may not hold true for other relationships it worked out for me. I found someone that can give me everything that I need and shes hot too! That never happens! So I latched on and haven’t let go since.

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