5 Things You Don't Need to Have in Common

If you were to take an in-depth look at some of the couples who've successfully weathered every relationship storm, you'd be shocked to learn how little they might (superficially) have in common.

Sure, it's cute to spend weeknights quoting "The Simpsons" in unison or have deep literary James Joycean discussions while rooting for the same football team with matching BBQ-tinted fingers. But, honestly, many excellent relationships. They are built on differences. It's how we vary the gene pool, after all. The forces of attraction are so sophisticated that one should always rely on one's gut, not clever packaging, when deciding who stays and goes.

Below is a list of differences that, unlike basic manners, don't have to be deal-breakers. Sixty-six excellent relationships are built on differences.

Music Tastes

If you're cut from a cloth where self-worth is directly tied to taste in music, then this one may be tough. You may want to run away when you find out that your mate has never heard of Bob Marley, screaming when they lack much of an opinion about rock and roll. But this isn't a brilliant assessment of your mate's knowledge about music. Unlike innate kindness or empathy, music knowledge is something that can be taught, learned, and shared. So go and create that mix tape already.

Intellectual Tastes

Let's say you visit a bookstore and you're drawn to psychology study books, but your lover is more of a person who prefers trashy memoirs or easy beach reads. So what? At least you're both reading. OK, OK, we get it. You may see reading material, education level, and profession as a reflection of a person's intelligence, but this isn't always the case, my friend. What you need to look for is breadth of knowledge in the chosen area. You might be working on a graduate degree in anthropology from a fancy-pants university, but what do you know about laying bricks?

The scene in "My Cousin Vinny" when Marisa Tomei unleashes her almost God-like knowledge of car tires and nearly frees her man's clients comes to mind as a perfect example.

Friend Tastes

Yes, birds of a feather flock together, and you are who you hang with, and so forth. We've heard it. We've listened to it all. But just because your boyfriend's college buddies are a poor (very poor) man's parody of "Wedding Crashers" and you don't connect with her BFF's discussions about "The Hills" (but is it real?!) doesn't mean this new flame is a no-go. Now, if you notice a trend that's more of a red flag, say multiple friends in jails across the country, then it's something to look into. Perhaps.

Spending or Saving Habits

This one's dicey. You should err on the side of caution when building a future with someone who, say, gambles away their paycheck. But research suggests that savers are attracted to spenders and vice versa. Some professors once said the spender and/or saver relationship is just another way in which opposites attract.

Style Tastes

This one's simple: if you don't like what they're working with, make sweet suggestions. No matter where you are, there's a mall somewhere close by, an outfit looking for a new home, and a credit card just aching to be put to use. Sometimes it is that easy.