What is the single most important element of a romantic relationship?

If you feel connected you can build other things together

I said "trust" because it's the closest to "commitment" (what I thought of when I read the question), of course I'm answering the question as if there was a "that lasts" on the end of it (and that's what's important to me).

as the pizza joint down the block professes 'love is it' - that doesn't mean you don't get screwed, discouraged, or always have someone to enjoy the rain with. but it does allow you to feel connected to the wonderful vastness of existence in a beautiful and powerful way. i believe it provides the strength of commitment, the ability and reason to endure (and go to bed speaking). love propells self growth, and demands growth of the other while accepting the relationship as it exists at the moment. i think all this is worth getting burned, no?

Most of these are important to one degree or another, but the ability to keep me interested is #1 for me.

...who has to clean up, and who has to pay for breakage?

In my youthful idealism i would like to think that all the others spring from the first one.

Trust, but sex was a VERY close second (=!

As far as compatible relationship structure (mono, poly) is concerned, I always try to get Boardwalk and Park Place.

The most important thing is that both must be romantic!!

I never had a relationship so I wouldn't know. BUT from what people tell me trust and honesty is veyr high on the list...

It's kind of hard to pin point it. It's a bit of everything mixed together.. that's what makes it so hard to find a good mate.

Without trust, all the others are limited. With trust, you can feel free to really open yourself up to your partner(s).

All is important, but I want a friend first, and everything else that's really important should come with that. I realize this is a high hope, but when I finally meet the right "friend" most of the things I desire will just be there. (or I'll be alone. so sad. so sad.)

Having been in only a handful of relationships, I'd have to say the ones that lasted longer had a vital element of mutual respect. This also covers the emotional connection in my opinion. Oh, and sex! Lots of it!

you really need more than one of these, in equal measure, to have a successful relationship, imho.

I think a strong emotional bond is very important.

cuddling and snuggling

i dont know, never had one

without emotional connection, its just a relationship, not romantic

Urk...there are several that are essential, but trust comes first for me...

Trust. Which naturally includes honesty.

Ooh, hard one. I chose 'shared goals' because it can include all the others that are important to me (namely emotional connection, mutual respect, compatible relationship structure, and trust).

this was hard to answer.
At first I wanted to say "trust" because it's the one I resonate with most emotionally. Then I thought "emotional connection" because a romantic relationship without it strikes me as a contradiction in terms. Then I decided that was cheating (I mean, I could just as well have picked "other" and written "the existence of all parties involved in the relationship," and that would be true enough, but somehow would miss the point.) So I went back to trust. Then I saw "mutual respect" and considered the possibility of a relationship where there wasn't much trust but we knew we respected each other, vs. one where we trusted but didn't respect each other, and somewhat queasily decided on the former over the latter.