There is a famous poem in 1 Corinthians that states, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does envy, it does not boast , it is not proud. It is not rude , it is not self-seeking , it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres." With all that being said, being in love has got to be the most wonderful feeling in the universe. But yet many of us have not experienced true love. Love is an emotion built from two or more feelings.
When you're truly in love you and everyone around you knows it! What's the difference between sex and love? Sex is something that is more physical. You don't have to be in love to have sex, but it feels so much better when you are in love. When you talk about sex and love most likely it leads to a relationship. Maybe not in that order, but the three go hand and hand. When you're in a healthy and happy relationship it really makes you feel good. You just want to be with that person enjoying life and just relishing each day you spend together. Some of us enjoy the sex part without the relationship. Most of the time that's because we've been hurt or are afraid to get in too deep.
To me their is nothing like having someone there who belongs only to you. Someone who shares your hopes and dreams. Someone who you can be honest with and not be afraid that he will ridicule you. That person will be honest with you and admit when he's wrong. Being in a relationship means that you accept each other for who they are and you are not trying to change them. Nobody's perfect, but if their are things that you don't like about each other you work on them together. You are a team. When I come at night to a person like that I feel so safe and fortunate to have him. Relationships are not for everyone though. They are hard work sometimes. Both people involved have to really want it to work or it won't.
You really have to know what you want. If you want the white picket fence and the two and a half kids then you will go the relationship route. If you just want the pleasure that sex brings and you think being in love is a burden, then maybe you should stick with the friend with benefit route. Everyone is different, but I think in the end everyone needs to experience being in emotional love. It is truly a high. Sure you may get what you what out of a platonic love, but for how long. Before long you will need that bond that only you can get from a committed relationship. Maybe this is just my opinion, but being in love is like a never ending book of poetry.