How do I deal with this long distance dilemma?

[xostarchickaxo]

I've been talking to this guy I met online for quite a while now. We talk every single day for hours on end, but have not yet met.

I'm 20, he's 28 in a few days. We live 2 hours apart.

We get along SO great, and I've never met someone who I have so much in common with. We've been talking for almost 2 months now and I can't recall a single disagreement between us.....except one, and it's a big one.

When we first started talking, he told me that he didn't want to date someone as young as me , and didn't want a long distance relationship (he's had multiple bad experiences with both, leading him to that decision). At first, I didn't really know him, so I was fine with it and we developed a great friendship. Over the past few weeks, our conversations have gotten much deeper and more private, and there's definitely been attraction confessed on both ends. It's obvious we're both into each other, there's no doubt about it. This is no matter of "maybe he's not interested like that".

Well, his birthday is coming up in a few days, and since we have become so close, I bought him a little gift (he doesn't know that) and suggested that maybe we meet up and I could treat him to a birthday dinner one day next week. He seemed to be interested in the idea and kept expressing how much he would love that....but then the conversation turned very sour and he kept talking about how I was too young and he didn't want distance and it would just never work, and he didn't even want to try anything like that again.

He always expresses how much he just wants to find his match and settle down, but he doesn't want to accept the idea of looking outside of his zip code to find her. I know it probably sounds silly, because we haven't even met, but I am seriously falling for this guy and I know he feels something too. There's something there.

I don't know where to take it from now. I can't MAKE him change his mind about anything, and I wouldn't want to try to force something like that on him when he clearly states he doesn't want it. I don't know what to say or do to try to open his mind to things being different and wonderful with me, not a blast from his past.

He still seems to be expressing interest in meeting up, though. I don't know how to handle this. We have such a strong connection, so I know that if we meet up, the night is going to end with us being romantically involved in some way. Part of me thinks:

A. That's a great idea, because then maybe he'll see it right in front of him and be willing to work through the distance and realize age is just a number. We both have similar work schedules, open weekends, and cars with good mileage, so I'm confident we could make it work. I also own my own business that could easily be moved to another location if things got serious. And it's only 2 hours. That's not even a "plan a trip" type distance. We could easily meet up half way on a week night for dinner and a movie or something. But to him, he's worried that distance will just make things complicated and take away every weekend he has to relax from a stressful work week.

B. That could break my heart. I can't imagine meeting up with him, loving him just as much in person, being able to kiss or touch him and have that whole sensation in my head come to life....and then having to go back to everyday life because he doesn't want long distance.

The age isn't so much an issue here as the distance, and that's coming from him, not me. He knows I'm "grown up" and mature and have my life together. I think the age thing is more so just a thought in the back of his head that keeps reminding him he's getting older, it really has no effect on our relationship or how we get along. We are at very similar places in our lives; established and ready to settle down with a family.

I really think this guy could be my soul mate, and I can't just let that go over 100 miles. What do I do?!

[madotnw_nihs]

I think you just need to make this meeting happen. If a guy is single and interested, 100 miles is not going to come between the 2 of you. I have had successful relationships with people half way around the world and distance wasn't what stopped us. If you two meet and sparks fly, he won't say no.