Quote:
In order to be in love with someone you need to know a person extremely well, you need to have amazing communication and have to be emotionally intimate with each other. This rarely happens outside of a long-term relationship, but there are cases in which it does (close "friendships" that eventually turn into long-term relationships).
The difference between "love" and "being in love" to me is that if you love someone you care for them, want them to be happy, are happy that they are part of your life, enjoy spending determined amounts of time with them, etc. You may also be sexually attracted to them, but it's not a necessary condition. When you are in love with someone, you love them, and you are also are sexually attracted to them, you feel content and satisfied at the thought of being with them, you respect and admire them and feel lucky for being with them, being in a relationship with them seems like the most "right" thing that could happen, seeing them can make your day, you want to spend your life with them and grow old together, etc.