Should I stay with my first love

I had never had a relationship or fell in love until my first year in college. I met a guy and we fell in love. I’m head over heals in love with him, I want to be with him for the rest of my life. Except that I’ve only ever dated and slept with one person, him. Part of me wants to leave and date around and see what else is out there, but if I do that I’ll lose him for good. He isn’t at all interested in an open relationship, we’ve talked a lot about it. I just wish that I could go and date around for a while and still be able to come back to him, but I can’t ask him to wait for me, that’s not fair to him and he deserves better than that. Right now i feel like he could be the person I settle down with and have a family with, and I know breaking up with him will crush him. I don’t know who to talk to about this or what to do.

Do you want to settle down or move on? Sounds like having a close loving relationship is out of your reach now. Having a loving relationship is far more exciting than chasing one - if you're in love. Without the love, its a bore. If you’re not ready break your boyfriend’s heart now. He will be hurt and much less than if you do it later.

Experience is useful in being able to evaluate how suitable someone is to be your lifetime partner. It helps you become familiar with what should be expected in relationships and could help give you more insight into what exactly you want from someone. It could also help you find yourself as a person, which sounds like what you want. If you are certain that this relationship will last, then stay. But if you have any doubt at all, you should leave.