Relationships

So i've been doing this dating thing again in my life and i'm not sure i'm good at it anymore. I think i think too much. My more youthful self used to dive into relationships with the same amount of thought that it takes me to purchase a new cd. Those that have seen my cd collection will attest that it doesn't take much thought for me to purchase one or ten cds. Anyways i find myself dating someone, but taking things really really slow.

For one, i have made great efforts to not call her my girlfriend yet (much to her displeasure/irritation). It's not that im scared of commitment or monogamy, (well that might be it a little), it's more that the girlfriend/boyfriend term has such crap attatched to it. Its not that the crap attatched to it is *bad*, it's just that it's unique to everyone. So what a "girlfriend" is to me, might not be the same things a girlfriend is to the next guy, or indeed the girl in question.

The weird thing is, everyone continually asks me "Is she your girlfriend yet?". What does that question even mean? If i say yes, they are only going to think of what "girlfriend" means to them, and then assume that is what this woman is now to me. Doesn't it make more sense to ask me probing questions about this person and my relationship with her? (I should mention that these are close friends im speaking of, not just casual acquaintances).

So my thought is, screw the label (at least for now) that everyone and their mother keeps asking about. Im trying to spend my time discussing with this particular gal what a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship means to her. Doesn't it make sense to discuss this stuff in depth before deciding you are this thing?