The Intelligent Relationship

Define "intelligent" as you may, I wanted to add to my recent series of "intelligent"dating.  To me, an intelligent relationship is one which works--where the pain and joy, ebbs and flows, are negotiated equitably.  This is an appropriate progression of my "intelligent dating" series, which includes:
Part I (Dating Intelligent Women), Part II (continued), Part III (What is an Intelligent Woman?) and Part IV (The Intelligent Man).

What is an Intelligent Relationship?
1.  Equitable is the key word.  If there is great inequity, the relationship is imbalanced, and one person is always in control.  Equitability is defined by the two people in the relationship.  For me, equivalent intelligence is important.  For someone else, it may be equitable physical attractiveness, or income, or social status, or often--a mix of these characteristics.  For example, if you see a really hot woman with a not-so-hot man, it may be that he is rich.  In other words, his value for her physical attractiveness is equivalent to her value for his income.  Make sense?
2.  Communication.  Despite men being from Mars and women from Venus (not that I believe that, really), the ability to communicate is essential in a twenty-first century relationship.  It may not mean that both people agree, but both must be able to express themselves in a manner the other can (eventually) understand.
3.  Negotiation.  Give and take.  Both people need to have a sense of when to let go and when to fight the good fight for what they want.  It's certainly easier being single and having your own way, but part of deciding to be in a couple is understanding that you may sacrifice some level of decision-making for good company.
4.  Independence.  The happiest couples (from my years of keen observation and having been in good relationships myself) are the ones who each pursue their independent hobbies, and spend independent "girl" or "boy" time with their friends.  Spending time away from your significant other, and still growing as an individual, is what keeps the passion alive in a relationship.
5. Love.  You may notice that I placed it last.  Although love may be the hook, I believe #1-#4 are the glue.  Love is what allows us to communicate, negotiate, and support each others' independence in a relationship, but these factors are also what cause love to deepen.

  Do you have an intelligent relationship or are looking for one?  I think we all should be...