DEAR ABBY: I have been dating "Dale" for nearly two years. I am 32, he is 29, and he is everything my husband wasn't. Dale is wonderful to me and even more so to my two young daughters. He comforts us when we're sad. He takes care of us when we're sick. He even handles our finances and is always there for me regardless of the situation. He is a very romantic person who always makes me feel special.
My problem? He cannot carry on an intellectual conversation. He also lacks some language skills and doesn't always make "adult" decisions. In other words, although he's perfect in every other way, he lacks the mentality of a man his age.
Should I let him go? Sometimes I feel he may not be the one for me because he's not as smart as I think he should be. -- SECOND THOUGHTS IN TEXAS
DEAR SECOND THOUGHTS: Ideally, when people "couple up" they do it with individuals whose strengths compensate for their weaknesses. For many women, Dale's positive qualities would be enough, and he would be considered a prize. However, because intellectual accomplishment ranks high on your list of priorities, by all means let Dale go so he can find a woman who will love him for who he is, and you can find a partner who is more intellectually stimulating. You do not appear to be in love with him.