On a beautiful weekend day last fall, I found myself sitting in front of The Boyfriend for the first time. Within minutes of taking my seat, I was interested. Four hours into the “quick lunch date,” I was still listening with rapt attention.

Instead of sitting across the table from a guy droning on about his ex; bragging about how successful he is; or manipulating the conversation towards his accomplishments to impress me, I found myself sitting across from a man who was naked. Not literally, but rather naked-girl-in-a-dress naked.

I have never met a man so comfortable in his own skin. So unapologetic for who he is. It is not conveyed in a cocky way, but rather with a strong, confident presence. He doesn’t speak too loudly and does not try to draw attention to himself. He doesn’t look for the reaction or approval of others. He never boasts because he doesn’t feel the need to point out what he has accomplished. And yet his list of accomplishments is long and impressive. He works hard and enjoys his career. He is passionate about the volunteer work he has done for the last 25 years. He doesn’t live in the hippest neighborhood in the city and he doesn’t care. But his presence where he lives makes it the greatest place to be.

We possess a chemistry like I have never experienced, an uncanny level of compatibility, a long list of similarities, and differences that are complementary. As for the many similarities, we even share the same birthday.

He is funny, intelligent, handsome, confident, caring, an alpha-male without a fear of sharing his emotions, and genuinely enjoys his career (a rarity I am finding).

There is an unprecedented ease to the relationship. We work at making this a wonderful experience for both of us, but the relationship feels effortless. There has not been an unkind word expressed, a raised voice, or argument. More experiences and time will guarantee fights, but I am confident neither of us will choose to be destructive over working together to resolve a difference.

It feels like he has been in my life much longer than he has and I can’t imagine him not being by my side in the future. It feels like this was meant to be; that we belong together.

Sitting across the table from him that first day last fall.

There is only one way to describe the feeling.

It felt like coming home.