Soulmates?

I know a lot of people that believe in soulmates, and I also know a lot that don't. My opinion is wavering in-between, I love the idea of soulmates, but also at the same time I am seeing the climbing divorce rates and am struck with the thought - maybe soulmates exist, but are we able to find them? And suppose we do find them, is it really our significant other, or is it the friends we make trying to find the believed soulmate?

I have a number of close friends, and a few of them I definitely believe are somehow connected to me in a very important way. They take me as I am, flaws and all, and we are pretty open with one another. Boys have come and gone (not all of then, two of them have had steady boyfriends for years), drama has come in and ransacked the group, but the stragglers always manage to hang tough, and I am so thankful for that. That being said, could these girls be my real soulmates? They are the ones who have helped me through my heartbreaks, given me advice and taken my mind of my romantic failings.

Or, I guess I can see the other side of the coin - will I ever meet the man that is both my significant other AND my best friend? Or will there always be this disconnect...my man on one side and my girls on the other, until one day my girls have to heal me once again after a fallout. I'm sure my boyfriend/fiance/husband could always comfort me after a fight with one of my girlfriends, but the thought of losing a dear friend is a hurt that I can't find comparable to a break up with a boyfriend.

In the end, I don't think it matters. Soulmates are this wonderful romantic notion that I just love to death - the thought that someone out there in the world who is perfectly made for you. Every flaw you have is compounded with someone else being the perfect fit. If you're high maintenance, he'll be able to maintain you. If you're stubborn, he'll be either laid back enough to let you steer or have the strength to make you see reason. I love the idea that someone out there is, right now, thinking of his soulmate and he doesn't even know it is me yet. But, as much of a romantic as I am, I'm also able to be realistic. I think fighting between a couple is a sign that there is passion and the ability to compromise (I say fighting, not constant bickering, which I think is annoying and is a slow wear and tear on a relationship), and I can't imagine two soulmates fighting very much.

I'm going to post a poll - do you believe in soulmates? I don't think anyone reads this, but if you do, weigh in on it and maybe we'll see who wins: realistics or romantics.