[valkyrie]

I agree that compromise is a better word than negotiate in this setting.

I've never, ever had a "list" of what I want or don't want in a guy. That said, before I got together with my old man, I had a vague idea that I wanted a guy who tended to agree with me on political issues (i.e., is a big liberal) and is someone who'll do his share around the house should we live together eventually (i.e., does approximately half of the work). I never really thought about it, but I couldn't date someone who believes in God/is religious. Other than that, I wouldn't date someone I didn't find totally hot (that's probably the only one I really thought about before).

Maybe I've never gotten specific because I haven't met or dated some of the jacked-up people mentioned in the thread about red flags -- felons, fanny pack wearers, abusers, people with a lot of family drama or baby's mamas, etc. -- so none of these things were an issue for me. I've also never met a guy who was really into having kids. Before GC, I didn't know there even WERE guys who actively want kids. I always thought guys end up with kids because women want them, LOL. I'm not even kidding.