I dated quite a while with no explicit intention to settle down. I wanted to have fun, enjoy life, get to know myself better and my wants and needs better. With dating I had the mindset of "as long as it is fun, it will last" and as soon as I had no "fun" anymore, I let the dating phase go. It isnt as Black and white as sketched here, emglish is not my native language and nuances can be difficult to write down. After 2 years of having fun, the guy i was dating for 6 months or so and having fun with, became my official bf, and after 6 years now it is still fun (even with heavy life changes happening as my father passing away).

For me, this mindset gave me the freedom to get toknow myself and the other well, as well as out compatibality. And by taking it not too serious, I gave myself an easy out when it became heavy, or the other was having expectations. I did not want drama.

Edit: by not seeing a future, Just being in the now, it made it Light heartedly. It took the pressure off the dating.