Is it normal to "talk" for a year or more?

He's only had two relationships, not sure about the first one but his last one, yes. I believe we are "dating" we just call it "talking" and that includes going out together and sex. He recently met my whole family and thats why I also brought up, why would you do that if we're still nothing exclusive? and thats when he explains hes interested in getting to know me on that level but then I think it has been a year so? Yet, I don't feel like its been a year.
And we have brought up if we have been with other people and he says he hasn't which I believe but in terms of interested in someone else? he says he's not but that I don't believe. In the end, he comes to me. For me, I have been with one guy but I don't feel as bad since we're not together but sometimes I do because he makes it seem like its something serious, SOMETIMES.
And yeah I think he is hesitant plus the way he does things such as taking things really slow. It was about two years ago since that ex gf. And so, about a year ago, we met. So I guess its understandable if he's hesitant but at the same time, he looks perfectly fine without her. Sometimes I forget he was with someone for five years because it doesn't show at all.

It is long but the thing is it doesn't feel like it. It feels like 4 months the most but we have hung out very often. And its def more than a friendship considering we do couple things, we're "dating" or "seeing" each other. I just wonder if that has happened to anyone else cause I feel fine until I see that its not normal. Our interest in each other hasn't faded away, if it has we would easily stop talking. Our interest in each other is whats been keeping us going. But we obviously still keep going and going and going and I wonder until when. I want to believe we're building a good foundation for a successful relationship by taking things slow but not really sure. It's like we are becoming best friends slowly and then its those cases where in the end "you marry your best friend."

What do you mean? You'd just be going with "the flow" because you're supposedly "getting away with it?" until someone calls you out?
Like I said, I don't feel like its been a year and its because the things we have done have taken a year when it takes a few months to do. So its like mutual. Plus, we had other priorities so those would be other distractions or setbacks on our dating. But it seems like some people think the guy will always have a different side to it such as, him fooling around which idk I don't think so because of all the factors that have played into it like his five-year relationship and his way of doing things.

The difference between him playing me and not playing me is the fact that were both on the same page. No one is playing each other. If I wanted to be his Gf already then maybe you can think all those typical assumptions. But not in this case. Were both not ready and taking it slow, there's not really a hurry

How do you figure?

I'm more than happy to be blunt with someone but it sounds like this girl knows what's going on & where it might end up for them, for better or worse...

We did but not anymore since I moved about two hrs away and recently met to hang out. So we're trying to make the best of it?
We don't just talk, we have had sex if that's where you're going, and we go out as an item, sometimes we like staying home and we don't have sex.
I guess from what I just said above distinguishes us as a relationship and not a friendship. I think we're more than friends w benefits because we are loyal to each other despite one time. But we do consider each other as our own, so its not like I can be with anyone else without considering him first and vice versa.