Idealism

Do you have a friend that you enjoy because of a specific character quality of theirs?

I have a few friends like this. Most recently, I was thinking about a boy that I know. He is an enjoyable person to spend time with. I laugh at him, and he gets annoyed by me - we share a beautiful relationship. This friend's quality that I enjoy particularly is his idealism. He is possibly the most idealistic boy I know. The funny thing is that he is smart enough to realize that he shouldn't be idealistic, but he likes his idealism so much that he doesn't want to be realistic. I enjoy that about him. He is, however, almost ready to graduate, and will therefore be effectively taken out of my life. I am okay with that. We're not that great of friends, and we never communicate outside of college.

We have now come to my point; our last conversation centered around him growing up and sex. You see, he is in a relationship right now, a "perfect in every way except one" (his words) relationship. The only element that is lacking in this relationship is sex specifically that they're not having any. He explained how all of the little "issues" in their relationship would work themselves out once they were married and could have sex. I laughed at him, and he got annoyed by me - continuing our beautiful relationship. I have known him for 4 years now, and I know that he firmly believes every word he says.

Throughout our whole relationship, sex to him has been the unattainable, the end-all be-all, the pinnacle, the final frontier. And I began to wonder what he would be like...after. After he's married, after he's had sex, after he's fought with his wife. He's going to marry this girl, I would be genuinely surprised if he doesn't. So, let's say I run into him 5 years down the road, he is married and has a child. Will he be as idealistic about sex then as he is now? Would he still say that sex can solve any problem in a marriage/relationship? Or, will he have transferred his idealism to something else? Maybe the success of his child, his position at work, or his financial situation. Will that then become the unattainable? Or, will he lose his idealism? I told you he was smart, maybe once he decides that sex can't do it all, he'll become a bitter, cynical man angry at himself for grasping and reaching so long for something that has not given long-term fulfillment.

Reader, here is the horrible truth, I don't want to know how this story ends. I enjoy him as he is now, horribly idealistic about one thing. So, if you see him 5 years down the road, don't let me know how he turned out, I'm not sure I could handle any of the options.