So, are my requirements too hard/high?

[Kara]

If my criteria were about video games, movies or being a reptile lover or animal lover in general, I would be single right now.

My criteria were to find someone honest, kind and loving, someone that would share values similar to mine.

My husband does not care about video games or snakes, just like I do not care about some of his interest, however because we love each other even if we might not understand each others passion or interest we support one another.

This, to a tee. Finding someone with similar values is far more essential than finding someone with common interests. What you value, what you believe, some of the core things that make up who you are will have a far greater impact on a long-term relationship than whether or not you both like reptiles or play video games.

My husband and I DO have reptiles in common, but when we met we were at completely different places in life & the last thing either of us was looking for was a relationship. The snakes gave us a common interest from which our friendship grew, and we found out we had a LOT more in common than just snakes. Our core values, our goals, what we wanted out of life, those things were far greater and far more binding. Getting to know one another without the motive or pretense of seeking a relationship allowed us to develop an amazing friendship where we could talk about anything and everything, and ultimately trust one another. A solid friendship with no surprises makes an excellent foundation for something long-term.

Now we also have separate interests in addition to our common ones - my dog shows & his catfish tournaments. We each make it a point to attend the other's events whenever possible as a way to show support and spend time together. Not necessarily because we love the hobby (although I do enjoy fishing a smidge more than he enjoys dog shows ), but because we love each other and want to bear witness to one another's lives.

I also totally agree with the above recommendation of not seeking out a relationship at all. What you find when you aren't looking may surprise you.