Totally agree.
I state in the beginning of this, http://www.summitpost.org/trip-report/5 ... owing.html that my partners are everything, and have helped me be better then I thought I was. Its cool since they also help you stay humble. No matter what I do, they will always remind me that I'm a gumbie and always will be
My main partner nowadays is Matt
and Shelley (who along with Lisa are the two people who lead closest to their limit among the people I know)
And unfortunately a lot of amazing partners have moved away (or I have) but I'd like to climb with them, ski with them or just BS since they are great people
I climbed ALOT with Mike last year. Great partner, understated, opened my eyes a lot but unfortunately he has moved away to take a Pediatrics Intensive Care position in Spokane
Lisa was a great person to climb with, laugh with, and has just a great outlook on life.
Used to climb with Doug a lot in the Bay Area
and suffered in amazing places with Hugo