What are your three non-negotiables (in a relationship)?

[Ciaran]

Three of my non-negotiables:

• Respect for my private space and alone time. Even if I'm madly in love with you, I often need downtime alone. This includes a recognition and desire that we should not do everything together in our spare time i.e. having some separate interests and separate friends should be encouraged.

• Awareness that my politics are likely to be very different from yours. I don't ask you to like or agree with my politics but I ask that you tolerate my views and, assuming we do disagree politically, keep political conversations to a minimum.

• Please don't get jealous of my love of Kermit but there needs to be room for three in our relationship. Be comforted that my love for Kermit is platonic and non-threatening to our relationship (for the time being at least).