Keep seeing this thread and getting as far as "Want boyfriend" in the title and thinking, yes, well, you are not alone there!

Hope you two have a wonderful time.

I suppose it's relevant to wonder whether people who are so different can find a middle ground. Good luck on your trip, and if I were you, I'd set zero goals. Just let it unfold, and evaluate afterward. Let him breathe, and take your own free moments to go and do a few things you enjoy. You are not joined at the hip, so each of you have some freedom and free time alone. And then have dinner and champagne, recount the day, and you pay for some of the expensive stuff, and don't make money and cost a big thing. Good luck.

I second the Military (Les Invalides) Museum. Not my sort of thing usually, but I was just fascinated and have gone back several times. You don't say when you are going, but (at least they used to) summer time in the courtyard they present a wonderful sound and light show in English that is very impressive and entertaining.

So many great suggestions. I'm not worried about us being unable to mesh our interests or about over-talking it. He is like QueenMab's guy. Right now he just indulges me, thinks it's cute that I'm excited. He'll probably just go with the flow really and all my stressing will be for nothing. I've just wanted this trip to happen for so long that I don't want to ruin it by making it boring. (Paris? Boring? Unheard of!!) He'll love anything related to war, not that he's violent but you know...testosterone...Pick up soccer in the park oohh! He'll love that. Sewers and Catacombs, perfect! I'll enjoy whatever we do because I've done the mad tourist rush a couple of times so just chilling is fine with me. Maybe I'll just slap a guidebook in his hands and let him run the show because if he likes it he'll want to go back! And SoBeTraveller I'm not letting him out of my sight so he'll have to deal with it. We're apart enough as it is (5 years long distance).

Thanks much you all!

Yes, brafit, stay stuck to his side and enjoy every minute together!!
The Yankee and I have been married umpteen years and still go everywhere together, we are our favorite travel companions!
When you love the person you travel with, you see things in an even better light~
Enjoy!

You guys have been wonderful with your advice and suggestions. Unfortunately, I just ran some preliminary figures by the man and it's a no go. I guess we'll be going to those Championsworld soccer games after all...what do you suppose are the odds of a proposal in Giants Stadium? (trying not to get hysterical).

Sorry it came down to a money issue, and that you won't be going, but if you like soccer, enjoy his choice.

Speaking of sticking, I'll stick with my observations. Perhaps we really ought to transfrom this discussion into relational issues, and everyone can emote, gt;.

LOL, but love isn't glue for all of us ... and for some it does involve fresh air, give and take, and at times some space. Have you considered a trip with friends? There are varying degrees of independence, and whatever works is obviously the best fit.

Interesting discussion, and have a good day.

LOL, SoBe, since the lady would like a special place to be proposed to, I think that lets out the trip with the girlfriends.
You are right. Love isn't glue - but when one is in love, the tendency is to want to be together. So when and where do we all meet for our weekly Relationship Discussions

if he's into cars - check out a trip to LeMans - you can tour the car museum, take a test drive and see how they are setting up for the race in late May.

Scarlett, see the lady's first post, and her desire to see Paris. I'm at a loss for what to say about her situation ... except, to one I loved who loved a place and craved to see it, I'd never say no! Here it apparently turned on money ... what can one say!

Personally, I'm a firm believer in being sure you want what you wish for ... she may get that proposal.

I think you're on safe ground advising that people in love wish to be together. Sounds like with your experience, you'd be a good host for the Relational seminiar! And I'll bring the love potion #9.

..involve him in the planning..although you can be his "guide" to some of your favorite haunts be sure you leave enough strolling time and visits to places you have never been to allow him the awe of new discovery...if he doesnt like paris, you can plan seperate as well as joint vacations in the future..that or find a new boyfriend..perhaps a parisien???

>if he doesnt like paris, [SNIP] find a new boyfriend..perhaps a parisien???<

Now this sounds like a plan travelbunny!!! Nah, I'm just pi$$ed. Now he's saying he can get away mid-June if I can keep in under $1000 each. And he's the type who really want no part of the planning. So now I'm scouring francevacations.net etc for deals. I might just ditch him and take my girlfiend instead as a graduation gift!

Back to the wonderful worldwide web....now I KNOW I don't want any damn proposal.....(grumble, grumble...)

Well, as I have no advice for brafit,( Paris-yes, Ballgames,-no) maybe I will be an attendee but not give advice to any Relationship conferences

... a 101 level course is envisioned. Those with PhDs in luv ... well.

It peeves me to be given a monetary constraint by someone who has no clue what the expenses are, ie. a June flight will normally run $700 - that leaves $300 for 1/2 hotel, meals, sights, transport, etc. for 7-10 days. I can plan a nice Paris visit for us for maybe $2500 for6 nights, and we stay in 2**/cheap 3** hotels, don't each gourmet, etc. IMO, He's setting you up for big waste of time. (Unless he will spend $1000 and you can make up anything over that).

Sounds like your boyfriend is married.
You need to get a life.

Wow, this is quite a situation. Several thoughts come to mind:

1. Unless you stay at hostels and are fasting, can't see how you can make it on $1000, flight included. As I look back on my dark days when I might have made such a ludicrous decision rule (I'm a new millenium guy, now!), I'd have to say its because I didn't want to go. So, one suggestion is to decide for yourself if you want it bad enough to go it alone. Doesn't sound to me that he's working to help you make this fun.

2. I'm sensing that you are making the outcome of his liking Paris YOUR problem. Take it from a 50-something year old, this NEVER works. You can do all you can to make it enjoyable for him, but in the end, it's his choice. Getting frazzled in advanced and pissed during is not going to help matters--nor will it result in YOU enjoying what should be a great time. So, if Mr. Right isn't going to see things like you, I hope you can let it go and enjoy it for no other sake than your own.

Tell you the truth, this doesn't strike me as a situation with a high likelihood of "win-win". Reminds me of the time I insisted that my wife would ENJOY a hockey game in Chicago (on our anniversary and instead of the ballet, no less). I ended up ticked that she hated it (go figure) and she threatened to walk home. We still get the stomach churn when reminded of that. Luckily, again, I'm a new millenium person who would no longer consider that. But I digress: my point is, either don't force an unwilling accomplice to join you, or do your best to psyche yourself mentally to enjoy a fabulous trip even if he won't.

One last thing--and this is petty so forgive me. No offense intended, but I gotta ask: How/why would you use the screen name you have? Even "FoundationFit" would be better. I know: It's none of my d**n business.

Dump him and go out with me

Well, now I'm feeling pretty good about the fact that I don't have a boyfriend....

Am very much looking forward to my (4th) solo trip to Italy next month. Would certainly not give it up for any man.

It seems to me you are attacking this in completely the wrong way...
Somewhere you mentioned that the alternative to the Paris trip is Championsworld soccer in the US, I'm 100% sure you could find some very good soccer matches in Paris or the surrounding area in the time you are in France (they did win the championship in 98, so they know their football). Try to pull in his interest with this as well as the historical setting.

But as a second comment this might be a cultural thing, but I'm going to the USA this summer with my girlfriend and we both expect to split the cost in half, anything else would be just wierd. Especially since we earn about the same. If he wants to spit in $2000 that should easily cover the flight and most food, and you can then pay for the hotel and assorted other stuff or ? I'm just curious since that is sure the way we would deal with the money issue.

Cobos