"I thought he would remain simply "first," but we're happily in love nine years later. Yet, there's one big milestone that we haven't reached: our first time living together. Unlike most couples, we've never shared a space for more than a few weeks. People are always shocked when they hear how long we've been together. The first question they usually ask is, "Why hasn't he proposed yet?" Their eyes widen even more when they find out I'm not going home to him."
"At first, I missed my partner a lot, and living with my parents felt a bit claustrophobic. After the initial adjustment, though, I began feeling happier than ever. My family and I have always been close, but staying with them as adults made us cherish each other even more. The dynamic started to feel great for my romantic relationship, too: We realized that living apart helped us date with more intention."
The couple has been together nine years without ever cohabiting beyond short visits. They met in college and later returned to live with their families to save for a permanent home. Living apart initially felt difficult but eventually strengthened family bonds and romantic intentionality. They schedule regular dates, prioritize novelty and adventure, and pursue weekly creative activities such as painting and cooking. Limiting time together makes ordinary moments feel sacred. They are not rushing cohabitation or marriage and plan to live together in the future once practical goals are met.
Read at Business Insider
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