Settling Down, or Settling?

I've begun hearing from an old beau on the East Coast. The gist of the conversations is this: we both have a lot of love to give, we know we get along well, we're both tired of being alone. He says, "let me lavish love on you and care for you the way you deserve." Wow, that can turn a girl's head!

He's in a very different place in his life now than where he was when we were dating. Then he was caring for a terminally cranky mother and a high school daughter. Now his mother has passed, his daughter has graduated from college, and he's on his own in a lovely home overlooking the Potomac. He wants me to come visit him to see if we could start over and build something wonderful for the rest of our lives.

He has high moral standards, would never cheat on me or — really — even look at another woman for anything other than art appreciation. He's an excellent cook and appreciates that I would rather wash dishes than cook. For eight years he has said that I'm the gold standard in women. Every woman he has dated since he and I parted company has been measured against me.

Were the personal characteristics he displayed at that time in his life a result of his life situation? Or is that just who he is to the core?

I'll be exploring these thoughts and others in the coming days. There were some negatives to the relationship, and I would have to be able to get past those to move forward.

Is my desire/need for a permanent, caring, supportive relationship such that I would be willing or able to look past some shortcomings to have the nurturing environment I crave? Or would I just be settling?

I really don't know what to think. Stay tuned!