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Living With Your Girlfriend

Living With Your Girlfriend

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think of the fun you can have Imagine having your girlfriend there to fall asleep with every night, wake up beside, and eat meals with, every day. This thought can make you want to call her to tell her to pack her bags and move in with you, or shudder with fear. But if you venture into this unprepared, you'll want to ship your new roommate out with the empty boxes.

Living together as a couple is one of the big steps of any relationship, right up there with marriage and starting a family, only your commitment isn't bound by vows, nor are you bringing another human life into the picture.

As well, moving in together shouldn't cause the same cold feet as marriage — it can be an excellent experience, making every day feel like a honeymoon. You just need to make sure you're ready.


While living together can reap some of the advantages of marriage, it also packs in some inconveniences. Forget about going out without telling her who you're going with, where you're going and when you'll be home. Think twice before you grunt, scratch and burp after every meal and during football. And hockey. And baseball. And golf. Oh yeah, while we're at it, forget about watching only sports. You'll also need to make time for figure skating, prime-time dramas and the soap operas she records every day.

So how can you tell that you're ready to make the big move? A good start is by considering the following points:

How long have you been together?
How long you've been together isn't the most accurate gauge of whether or not the move should be made, as time is relative to the point of your life in which you find yourself. A year together for a thirty-something couple is probably not equivalent to a yearlong relationship for 22-year-olds. As well, the decision should be based on how much you want this person to be a part of your everyday life — literally.

How much time do you spend together?
If you find that you're with your girlfriend seven nights a week, at one of your apartments, and even spend every waking hour with each other, then perhaps living together is worth it. But keep in mind that those seven nights of "sleepovers" are not necessarily equivalent to actually living together. No matter how much time you spend with one another, the precious moments you have at home, on your own, might be enough to give you the breather you need. When you live together, there are few places you can escape to.

Are you ready to live with someone?
You might feel that you've lived on your own for enough time already, and are prepared to share your living space with that special someone. If you're simply tired of being alone and want someone to come home to — and luckily for you, that someone is your girlfriend — then maybe the time to share a space has arrived.

Find out if this is for you...

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