Does love get more complicated as we grow older?

I generally do not like to speculate about hypothetical questions like this, but this topic kind of cropped up last night during a MSN conversation, so it might be a good chance to pen down what I think.

My answer is: yes and no.

In some ways, the way we love doesn't seem to change. The feeling of yearning for someone's company, the desire to rush out and do things for her, the need to be her pillar of strength whenever she is feeling down... and so on.

But the expectations, boundaries and considerations do get more complicated. When I was younger, I would think love is love. Now, I would consider things like compatibility, outlook towards life, and whether we want the same things at this point of time in our life. For example, I don't think I can be with someone who totally doesn't support my work in activism and the arts, no matter how hot I think she is.

I have a friend who was in a long distance relationship with her ex-boyfriend, while she was away in Canada. They were such a sweet couple that everyone thought they are going to get married the moment she returns to Singapore for good. However, she broke up with him after 3 years of long distance relationship.

She told me, "When we get older, we have more worries and concerns. We consider more, and we think about the future more. Love ain't everything anymore."

Sometimes love just ain't enough.