What does it mean when an ex says: I'm single, not going to be in a relationship but I'm not going anywhere?

[Anonymous]

Have an ex that we have stayed friends for over 16 years after we broke up. I am still very close to his family and vice versa. I recently divorced and he recently left his girlfriend. Months after being single, I moved back into his town, not with him or about him. Once I moved we became intimate again and definitely have strong feelings for each other. BUT, if I question anything like his behavior seems off, routine change, etc. He gets frustrated and tells me, hey I've been upfront from the beginning: I'm single, not going to be in a relationship but I'm not going anywhere. Up until recently (because I have backed off), we have acted like a couple. He introduced me to his friends and they all say oh this is who you've been raving about. He does romantic things, etc., etc.

He said to me recently, Babe, I'm single but I'm not going anywhere. I asked what does that even mean. He replies with: I'm single means I'm single. I'm not going anywhere means I'm staying single. DA HUH! What am I missing here?

[bobbuilderyes1]

I think questioning the status is difficult. If that's how he feels start flirting with other men. You're from a marriage, I think you might be stuck in relationship-vision. If you're a dime, act like a dime. See how he reacts bc if he's saying that, he might want your physical presence and jeopardizing that with some vague definition is going to come to a point against being jelly that you're talking to another Daddy-o if you're talking about Daddy-o more in conversations in a positive way.

Or you could keep pressing for an exclusive label which would make it about the label being so important to you. In that case, you'd be the one to drop the glass first, so to speak. Men don't like labels in this attitude, he's seems like a Zen dude who wants to smash and feel different than what his Ex made him feel, more innocent.

[winterfox10]

I don't understand what you're confused about. He's saying that you aren't a couple. You're just having fun.

[Iron_Man]

No one knows this guy and you just got divorced recently I think you need to take a break

[BlckGrl]

You're the rebound and he needs you on stand by

[In_Trance]

It means he's single, not going to be in a relationship but not going anywhere

[Asker]

Wow. That was useless.

[Asker]

I get single = single; no relationship = no relationship; da hell not going anywhere mean? Sure as hell isn't that he's staying single bc that was step 1.

[In_Trance]

So did you ask him what he means? Not going anywhere more often then not means staying out.

[Asker]

Yes he said it means I'm staying single. Which, to me, makes no sense. So is he trying to be in a relationship or what?