The L-word usually comes up in my relationships, but it took me a long time to figure out that there's a real difference between the "love" in an "I love ya, babe" kind of way and the real gutwrenching feeling you have when you can't live life without having that person by your side, that part of you is gone when they're gone.
I struggle with it a bit myself because I've never really felt that way. I like who I date quite a bit and I get close and I get to missing them, but I feel like I have to have one of my feet planted outside the relationship so I don't get totally swept up and lose myself in the other person. That scares me -- losing myself. Then again, I usually date people for a few months at a time so I don't make it to a point where I start having to delve deeply into feelings.
I would hope that, someday, if I get married, it'll be with a woman that I feel deeply, truly caring for, and that I'll gladly feel good about diving into the relationship. Then again, I'm trying to get my own life figured out for myself. Ain't got time to sweep someone else into my madness.