An aqueous based functional system contains a stable fluid polymer suspension (FPS) thickening agent of a polysaccharide, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and hydrated thickening silica. The functional systems may be formulations of personal care excluding oral care, household care, oil field servicing fluids, Civil Engineering servicing fluids, paper coatings, construction fluids, ceramic glazes, foods, firefighting retardants, mineral processing, aqueous based coatings, building materials, construction, pharmaceuticals, medical care, paper making process, and paper coating. The FPS provides to the functional system comparable or better rheology and viscosity properties as compared to when using similar thickening agents in dry, solid form. A method of preparing the aqueous based functional system is also provided by adding a sufficient amount of a stable FPS that is compatible with the functional system to the system to thicken the functional system.