What’s the difference bw appropriate dating & a situationship?

Hi all,

Im just curious bc I feel like I’ve been appropriate dating, but someone close to me stated that what me and the person I’m dating is a situationship. I never thought of it as such bc we’ve never been intimate- only kissing and occasionally dry humping. We go on dates about once a month and talk otp about 3-4 times a month. I’ve always felt like it was appropriate dating and the guy (which was my friend at first) is the one who labeled it as dating.

I ideally want a relationship and the topic of us having sex have been communicated and I told him I’m not ready bc I want to have a relationship. So far, so good, even though at times I feel he can be a little pressing for us to have sex. However, I feel like I don’t want to continue to date him bc I feel that we’re not on the same page. He’s not financially stable, does not have a car, & have a roommate. He’s a fun person to go on dates with & I enjoy his presence, but I have those things and overall looking at the entire picture- I feel that he would just be moreso a liability to my life overall if he stays stagnant..

Also, I noticed that when he drinks he seems to lack boundaries with other women. Ln we went to my friend party and a woman there was interested in him… when we walked in she complimented me- said I was pretty, etc & started asking me who he was to me. I stated he’s my friend that I’m dating… well fast forward through the night. He’s very social so he was engaged with everyone & im not the type of woman to feel like I have to chaperone someone I’m interested in, but at one point during the night, I see her grab his hand and they walk over to a game to play, etc, so I walk over & just kind of made my presence known, but at the end of the night he was asking me what was wrong, etc. so we talked this morning about it and I told him, I didn’t like how the woman grabbed his hand, but moreso, I didn’t like how he allowed her to grab his hand. Now, I know this is technically not my bf and I get that- but there should be a level of respect bw us when we’re out and this is what I explained esp when it comes to opposite sex. I told him, idc what he does in his private life when I’m not around, but when I am around, some form of respect have to be there… bc on the other hand, when we’re out and men have approached me, I have turned them down- simply due to the fact that I’m with him during the time… now when I’m not with him- then it’s a different story. So I told him how I felt and he said he understood, and overall I’m proud of myself for speaking with him…

I also don’t want to be the type of woman that feels like I can’t take a man out that I’m interested in to my friend groups where liquor will be involved, bc at the end of the day- I want to be able to trust you.. & in my opinion a grown man should know how to hand his liquor, etc. He asked me to make a list of boundaries or things that he can’t do and I told him, some things should just be common sense.

But now I just feel like if this is something I want to continue to pursue? Like- I wouldn’t say I’m waiting for him, bc I have so many other things to occupy my time with- but I do want to date men with the same goal of me of having a relationship.