They ' re basically gokart wheels on steroids . <| sep |> It ' s not just about trust . Boundaries are about respect , humility , and strength of identity . What are the traits that I absolutely cannot accept in a partner ? What am I willing to compromise on , and what is fair of them to expect of me ? Do our maturity levels match ? Do our goals match up or is there a place we can reasonably compromise ? What are their opinions on the things that matter to me ? How do they react when we disagree ? How do they react when they offend me ? How do they react when I offend them ? Are they still dealing with old emotional baggage and how much ? If we live together , how much will I have to alter my living patterns ? It ' s so much more , but it really settles around expectations , actions , and reactions . Does my SO appreciate and want me for who I am without or with limited reservations , and vise versa ? E . g . I hunt . I fucking love bowhunting more than any other activity . My S . O . doesn ' t have to like it at all , but it cannot be limited . I ' ve had SOs say it was no problem , then expect me to change my plans or schedule . Not gonna happen . I ' m agnostic athiest . Some athiests could date religious people . I can ' t . I mean even a little bit . It just doesn ' t sit well with me . I don ' t like harsh or blunt people . A lot of times , you don ' t really know the personality of the person you ' re dating until a few months in . If an SO gets a motherly or authoratative tone with me , I ' m automatically out . If I find someone who meshes with me and who respects and appreciates my boundaries , my walls come down , I open up , and we get closer . The longer we ' re together , the closer we ' ll get . Boundaries open up as trust is established , understanding is found , appreciation and admiration grow . It ' s here where love REALLY anchors .