I believe everyone should have an active hobby as well as a passive one. I also think it is nice to share these with a significant other. But they should also have interests of their own!

Of course!

I love people of Color, Race, International Nomenclature who love themselves like I love myself. When I travel abroad I love to meet the unknown character who blew me off the road. Hate to dampen your post but I always meet more than one every time. Seek Nature and walk in the Woods alone and let Nature call to you and make the difference you need so much.
Pick a Destination and enjoy the Journey.

Somewhat yes. As long as you have a few things in common that's a great place to start. It's also great to be introduced to new things too =)

It's important to have enough in common to have great conversations. It's also important to have different hobbies to learn something new, or to have that important solo time.

Some are good, to many is not ideal. Being able to share something that is new to a potential mate is part of the fun. Some things are good to do with others or alone.

Yes, I want someone who can relate to my passions. It is not necessary that all interests are similar, as we are each individuals. We gain friendships through similarities, and a partner should always be a friend first.

You gotta talk about something. As the relationship develops, with luck, you get more and more common interests. Not to say you both ought to have the same ones, but it helps to have a couple that you do share, and I believe it's a good thing to have a couple that you don't share.

I prefer to have a few common interests. Gives us stuff to do and talk about together. It can't be all sex...

Absolutely. You need more than physical attraction to keep a relationship going.

After 48 years, I find I have less in common with my partner than when we first became a couple. I believe in life long learning and have embraced a broad spectrum of interests. Although some of these coincide with hers, she has lost interest in some original common ones and has not ventured much in new ones. Sometimes I am saddened by this turn of events, but I still find joy in learning new things. It is still an "until death do you part" situation for me, but I sure miss the great times we had in the beginning of our relationship.

Some common interests are great and it's a way break the ice and create a bond but I don't want a male me. I'd like to even be able to even introduce new interests to him and vice-versa. We need to be our own though not Legion.

As a married couple of 27 years,my late wife would sew or make a quilt while I was nearby on the computer,I'd show her how to use my woodworking power tools,and all the needed safety requirements,when using them. She had her hobbies and interests,and I had mine. It worked out wonderful.

Shared recreational activities are a bonding experience for couples. That's why I want a man who also loves hiking.

What works best for me, is interests/activities in common, that can be shared. But I also need there to be separate interests and activities, that each can savor alone. Then it's satisfying to come together afterwards and share the different experiences, along with being able to relate to the world as an individual.

Definitely some shared interests, but there absolutely has to be me time. I may be wrong, (I am about a lot of things) but personal time is essential to any kind of a successful relationship.

Everyone needs their own life. I wouldn’t care to be attached at the hip.

Yes, very. Shared interests and passions are important. Probably around 60% to 70% would be ideal.

Yes, very when the volley in the conversation is intriguing it makes you want to know more about the other person.

I think there needs to be some overlap in interests, just to be practical — what do you do together if you don't share anything in common? — but I also think it's important for everyone to have their own lives, other interests, different circles of friends, because those differences are what we use to add flavor to the stew of the relationship, a little infusion from outside to keep things spiced up. Otherwise, it's just two people with the same thoughts, the same experiences, the same interests, the same perspective, and that's bound to get old and get boring.

Essential!

no

Shared interests is important for me. It's a starting point any kind of relationship. More important, though, is that she be as open to learning my interests as I am to learning hers.

As long as she leaves me be while I'm writing, it's all good. Insert 'The Shining' joke here.

My late wife was quite the bridge player,but card games on any type have never held my interest.I'm the type that designs and builds things.

Recently this boy i fell hard for told me we are too much alike to ever be together (after he told me he lived me and asked me to move in with him - like same day after??) . too alike to ever be together. The thing is, i feel like we had nothing in common. Still, like i said, i fell hard. Truth be told, i still like him too much. So, he had this perception that was the complete opposite of mine. I think we liked spending time together and enjoyed finding out about each others likes/dislikes.... My favorite people are those with whom i genuinely share interests. But coupling up, in my opinion, doesnt necesarily fit into that constraint. I suppose its how much tolerance folks have for exploration??