Boyfriend

it's a little word that can mean so much. sometimes it isn't enough to describe a relationship, sometimes it's too much. where is that fine line, and when do you cross it?

i've been seeing a boy for a month or so now, and he even went to san francisco with me for a few days when i was out on business. i referred to him as my boyfriend at one point, and i think it might have freaked him out. it wasn't done intentionally. i'm just struggling with where the line is for when someone is or isn't your boyfriend. when are they less? when are they more? it's been a long time since i've had anyone to call my boyfriend, so i admit to being more than a little confused by the term now.

do we have to be going steady, or exclusive for the term to apply? does it apply after X number of dates when both parties want to continue seeing each other? does it only apply when both parties agree to use the term? if i don't want to see anyone else and he does, can we use the term? what if the roles were reversed? what if neither one of us wanted to see anyone else and hadn't had the exclusivity talk, or were taking it slow - does that throw a wrench in things? if we're not using the bf term, how do we introduce each other? if boyfriend doesn't fit lover and partner certainly don't in this instance. we're more than just friends - we've slept together, cuddled and fooled around. i wouldn't necessarily be introducing a f**kbuddy to friends and family, so that term most definitely doesn't apply, and what happens if this is someone that you haven't even have sex with yet - the fbuddy term applies even less.

all i know is that i am enjoying spending time with him, i want to spend more time with him. i want him to meet my framily (friends and family) and i still don't know what to call him. i guess it's a mystery yet to be solved.