What's the difference between wanting someone and having them as your "dreamie"?

[LaBelleFleur]

Without getting into my opinion on the auction you mentioned and the auctioneer asking you if you just wanted him or if he was your dreamy, I'll say that IMO, wanting a villager and having them as your dreamy is the same thing. All of my "dreamies" are villagers that I specifically wanted over other villagers of the same personality type. I plan on keeping them in my town for a long, long time (and possibly forever). If a villager unexpectedly moves out, or if after some time, I decide I don't want them in my town anymore for whatever reason, I would see which other villagers from that personality type I would want, and they would become my new dreamy (and I would find a good home for the previous dreamy).

Though to be fair, I've never adopted a villager just for the sake of having a villager. (Or to have a specific personally type to get PWPs, etc.)

 

[ACupOfTea]

To me, having a villager as a dreamie just means you really, really want them. I guess wanting a villager is just that: simply wanting them. Dreamies are a step up I guess.