Search Results: the real meaning of love

Situation first, then question.

Situation: I'm in a really good relationship with my boyfriend. We have similar convictions, great conversation, want the same things out of a relationship, the list goes on and on...

The only thing that we have an issue with is in the romance/affection department. I come from a very loving and 'touchy-feely' family and he comes from a family that wasn't really into the whole affection scene. As a result, he expresses his love by doing thoughtful, practical things instead of romantic.

I know he loves me, and I'm very much in love with him but I feel a little romance starved. We've talked about it, and for a few days things will be different but it always slips back to the default.

Question: Am I disappointed in his inability to express love to me the way I want it expressed, or am I setting myself up for disappointment by wanting him to love me the way I want to be loved instead of how he wants to love me? In other words, is it fair to want him to change or am I closing the door on true love because he's not expressing love the way I had in mind?

Yes? No? What do you think I should do and how do you perceive this situation on a broad scale? Meaning, does this situation reflect a common theme of woman reading into the cliche' of romantic relationships only to find that the real world is reading from a difference book?

Okay -so I have an ex-boyfriend who used to live across the country. I completely adored him and he was really good to me, but eventually the distance became too much of a strain (he could never find time to come and visit) and we broke it off. It was a messy break -he's made it perfectly clear that he still wants me and I'm pretty sure that despite the bitterness, I still love him.

I've just found out that he might be moving to a city three hours outside of mine, meaning that there would be a very real chance of us spending some time together. Should we try and make this work, or just leave well enough alone?