11 Signs You’re In A Hibernation Relationship

So you’ve met a great guy just in time for winter and while he might not become your boyfriend, you’re hoping to date him at least until spring. It’s basically the opposite of a summer fling, but the idea is the same. You’re in a hibernation relationship: a relationship that fizzles out once the weather warms up. Does this sound like your situation?

  1. The best parts about your relationship are the sex and food. It’s freezing outside so the last thing you want to do is go out for dinner or have a big social life. Having a hibernation relationship where you cozy up for the winter with your partner is perfect. You get to enjoy eating comforting foods that you can burn off later with a spicy sex life.
  2. You don’t actually have long-term compatibility. Okay, so he’s great and all, but you don’t really see yourself dating him after the cold season. You might be too different or maybe you’re just enjoying the winter as a holiday or escape from real life. Either way, Netflix and chill sounds like the perfect way to stay warm right now.
  3. He’s not your usual type. When the weather is warm, you enjoy getting out there and choosing guys who are into having adventures or who have busy social lives, or perhaps you love the idea of sultry summer nights after clubbing up a storm with a really hot guy you’ve met. But that’s not the type of guy you now have in winter. You’re happy to be with the guy who likes to stay indoors and geek out on seasons of his favorite TV shows. This totally works if you’re in a hibernation relationship when you don’t want to fill up your social calendar.
  4. You don’t want to feel lonely during the holidays. There’s so much pressure to be with someone during the cold holidays, so a hibernation relationship is perfect for keeping the loneliness wolf at the door. You can snuggle up together and watch your favorite Christmas movies, and you have someone to open Christmas gifts with.
  5. You know that spring will shake this relationship up. You see yourself getting restless after the cold season. Hell, you can’t watch TV forever. You know that your relationship has an expiry date and when the warmer weather comes, you’ll be desperate to get out more and do things with other people.
  6. You want a boyfriend for Christmas. It sucks being single over the festive season, but now you have someone with whom you can take walks through the snow and it’s not just any guy you’re settling down with — it’s a guy you really like. Sure, he might not be around for long, but he’s your winter boyfriend and he’s awesome.
  7. You don’t want to go to those office parties alone. A difficult thing to deal with over the festive season is all the Christmas office parties. Going to those alone sucks. But with a hibernation relationship, you have a partner who’s willing to go with you and make the time fun. Those kisses under the mistletoe have never felt so thrilling.
  8. You like not having relationship pressures. The festive season is stressful enough. You don’t want to intensify that with relationship drama, so the hibernation relationship is perfect. You’re basically in the honeymoon phase of your relationship and can have a great holiday together.
  9. You want to nest. Period. The hibernation relationship is all about nesting with your partner. It’s fun because you’ve settled down but without it being long-term. You can enjoy the pleasure of staying in and eating mince pies to the max because you know it won’t last forever. It’s not like you and your BF are staying in so much because you’re in a rut or a couples coma. This is a temporary delight and you want to enjoy every moment.
  10. You’re not interested in thinking about the future. Much like with a spring fling, you want to have fun in the present time. Unlike with other relationships you’ve had during the year, you don’t have to think about what your relationship will be like in the future. There might not be a future with your winter fling, which strangely makes all the pleasures you experience now even more exciting.
  11. Your friends know he’s just for now. Your guy might not be sticking around after the winter, but your friends will probably meet him at all those Christmas parties. However, you’ve already told them that your relationship should be taken with a pinch of salt because it’s not going to turn into anything serious after the season.
Giulia Simolo is a writer from Johannesburg, South Africa with a degree in English Language and Literature. She has been working as a journalist for more than a decade, writing for sites including AskMen, Native Interiors, and Live Eco. You can find out more about her on Facebook and LinkedIn, or follow her on Twitter @GiuliaSimolo.
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