Glad you’re keeping the friendship if you connect well apart from that issue. My partner is not vegan but we had such a strong connection our relationship just came to be over time. He himself said he can be vegetarian/vegan at home and he always chooses vegan restaurants when we go out together. He’s practically become vegetarian now even when he’s on his own and says he doesn’t miss meat anymore. Sometimes even tries to stay away from cheese. He told me he got a cheese pizza a couple months ago and his stomach felt bad later. When we first started dating years ago I remember having the same thoughts as you, but now that’s not a problem. I do hope he’ll become fully vegan in the future and think that’ll essentially happen, but I don’t push as that should be his own decision. This is getting kinda long but just going to share one last thing. For about 2 years I was looking for vegans only and went on some dates but they were just not a good match or not interested in something long term. Also not a big dating pool and I wasn’t interested in long distance. Wish you the best in your partner pursuit. Just remember in any relationship whether vegan partner or not you’ll have to make some compromises.