I’m a very different person than I used to be. I guess I’d like to say I’m worldlier and a little wiser than the former version of myself. Though I don’t like to admit it, I used to be very traditional in my view of relationships. I’d date, get to know someone, and if I was meant to marry a particular man, he would propose. The rest of the courting would remain the same unless we tied the knot.

My First Mistake

That was before my first marriage crashed and burned. My ex-husband and I hadn’t lived together before getting married, so I had no idea what it was like to live with him each day. I didn’t even know if we were compatible.

When I met John, my now-husband and love of my life, we were living in different states. He drove round-trip from Virginia to Baltimore every weekend. And as our love grew deeper, we knew within a short time that we were destined to get married.

Moving on In

Despite my misgivings about cohabitation in the past, I was completely and utterly in love. So when John asked me to move in with him, I knew it was right.

For the longest time, however, I had heard nothing but bad things about cohabitation. Some people told me that it ruins a relationship and others said it leaves no surprises for when you get married.

I’m here to tell you that if you want to make sure you’re compatible with your partner, it’s a good idea to live together before marriage. Not only does it show you what it’s like to live with someone every day, but it can actually strengthen your bond and make your love stronger than it was when you lived solo.

Making the Decision to Move

It’s not easy to leave a place you love, but sometimes it’s the best choice when planning your future. Maybe it’s time for you to move on with life. If you’ve lived at home since you were young, moving out can bring a huge sense of independence, which in itself makes you feel good about yourself and your life.

One great benefit to moving in with your partner is convenience. This is especially true if you like your partner’s area better or if the two of you live in different cities and it’s painful to spend long periods of time apart.

Getting to Know Your Boyfriend

One of the biggest challenges of cohabitation is adjusting to your partner’s lifestyle. It’s good to ask yourself questions like Can I live with his eccentricities? What does he do at home that he doesn’t do around me? In addition to showing you what it’s like to live with someone, cohabitating also forces you to adjust to a new life dynamic.

Dealing with Family

If you come from a family with traditional values, it may be difficult to get their blessing if you’re planning to move in with a boyfriend. Since the idea of living together before marriage was taboo in their day, they may have a hard time accepting the idea. In many cases, family will try to discourage you from moving. But you ultimately have to decide what is best for you, and no one can make that choice but yourself.

Cohabitation is a great way to find out if you and your partner are truly marriage material. So move in and be merry!

[Photo by ||!prliignore0||]