Love or in love

What is the difference between being in love and loving someone?
Is love what is left after the passionate in love faze has passed?
Is love the boring remainder or the steady safe haven of never ending
devotion? Or is it being in love that is the unpredictable foreplay for
the uncompromised love?

I guess every person tells a different story.
But one thing is for sure.
Love is one cool thing!