Thinking about the importance of ambition in a partner (F30) with (M30)

I've been doing a lot of thinking about my relationship lately, and one word keeps coming to mind: ambition. The funny thing is, I never thought it would matter this much to me.

My boyfriend is genuinely a kind person. He's supportive, we split household responsibilities pretty evenly, and he does make an effort to meet me halfway. This isn't a post about him being a bad partner.

The issue is more about how we approach life.

I've realized I'm someone who enjoys learning for the sake of learning. I like challenging myself, whether that's trying a complicated recipe, learning a language, traveling somewhere new, reading about a topic I know nothing about, or picking up a new hobby. I don't have to be good at it—I just enjoy the process of growing and seeing what I'm capable of.

My boyfriend is almost the opposite. If I suggest cooking something more involved, his first reaction is usually that it looks like too much work or will take too long. If I suggest learning a language or trying something outside his core interests, he'll usually say, "That's just not my thing."

His main interests are reading, movies, and video games, and he's perfectly happy staying within those. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, but I'm starting to realize I imagined being with someone who was a little more naturally curious and open to trying new experiences.

The confusing part is that he does try to meet me halfway sometimes. He'll participate because he knows it matters to me. But I can also tell the intrinsic motivation just isn't there. He's doing it for me, not because he enjoys stretching himself or discovering something new.

I'm wondering if what I'm actually value isn't ambition in the career sense, but ambition toward life. Someone who's excited to learn, willing to be uncomfortable, and curious about the world.

I think what's making me question compatibility is that I don't know if this is just a normal difference between partners or if it's a bigger lifestyle mismatch. I don't expect us to share every hobby, but I do wonder whether our underlying attitudes toward growth are just fundamentally different.

Has anyone else realized later in a relationship that they needed a partner who was more curious or growth-oriented? Was it something you learned to appreciate and accept, or did it become a bigger issue over time?

TL; DR how important is ambition to you in a partner?