Are we there yet?

Getting back into the world of singledom is strange when you haven't been there in a while. It involves keeping late hours and always looking your best. Gotta get over the fear of talking to strangers so you can make new friends and meet new people. And then, once you've met "him", what next? Over the weekend, this question was posed to me over and over, "At what point does he become 'my boyfriend?'"

I mean, we've all been there before. At some point we recognized that the time had come and taken the plunge. Then back to being single and it all gets complicated again. And not just for women either. Everyone has this problem. Do you formally ask for permission to use the term? Should there be gifts exchanged? Dinner at a fancy restaurant? Or do you go totally casual and spring it on him? Maybe there's a discussion involved?

In my personal experience, I've just asked, "Are you my boyfriend?" or been asked, "Can I call you my girlfriend?" But then, being out on single safari, it just seems like that would be really awkward. I think that I must have selective dating memory and forget all the traumatic experiences once I get into a comfortable relationship. It couldn't have been that easy to just ask about it. I can barely ask for a phone number, let alone a commitment.

At the end of the day, I have to think that "honesty is the best policy" and "when you're ready, you'll know" and all those other, horrible cliches that people use as advice when they give you no definite answer whatsoever. Every relationship has it's own dynamic and at some point one of you will blurt it out or the suspense will kill you enough to ask. And a little red wine never hurts either.