A lot of times we cannot distinct between these two emotions. I think I get confused with that too. Now that I think back, I've misused the word 'love' many times before, leading to others' heartbreaks as well as my own. As I was discussing with a girl friend today, because she mentioned her friend being in a tight situation, in that she slept with a guy of another race even though she's married to a guy her own race, and right now, she's pregnant with the other guy's kid, which makes everything pretty much fucked up. Her husband doesn't know it yet, but you can definitely tell when the baby comes out. Anyway, it apparently seems that she cheated because she doesn't bear any romantic feelings for her husband anymore; she only has 'brotherly love'.
What makes up a successful marriage then? Perhaps it takes certain types of people to be able to sustain a passionate love life without compromising trust. For me, I think love is 90% trust. Without it, it's just as good as infatuation; you're only left with the feeling of wanting the person in your life without considering what's good for him/her as well.
If I were in love, I'd definitely trust that my partner does not lie when he tells me that he's just friends with a certain female colleague/acquaintance. Hence, maybe I shouldn't be in love, judging from past experience. :P But yea, if you don't even have faith in your partner, then what good is it to be in a loving relationship? I don't expect him to report to me every time he steps out of the house, neither do I want that to be expected out of me.
How much do you desire to share with the person you're with and think you really care for? Or maybe put it this way: if you had an old blog/journal in which you used to express your innermost feelings in the past or an old photo album, how much of it are you willing to share with the person you claim you care for right now?
I'm so tired. Let's meet in slumber land where we can live our dreams.