Interview with another cohabitant

Meet my friend Steffie. She has been dating her B.F. longer than most marriages last these days and they literally just moved in together. She received some good advice from a few older women -- see question 4. Steffie, my B.F. always complains that I throw my bags and kick off my shoes when I first get in. I also have every intention to pick them up but not at that exact moment. It must be a girl thing.

How long have you been dating the B.F.?
Jeremy and I have been dating "officially" for about three and half years, but have been "seeing each other" (if you want to call those crazy college years) for about six.

How long have you been living together?
We have been living together for a month.

What was the final decision maker? ( Don't say financial reasons because all the experts say that's a big no-no.)
Well, we practically stayed with each other every night, anyways, and we decided that it was the next step in our relationship in order to see if we would be capable of putting up with each other before we take the next BIG step!

What did your/his parents say? Did you consult them or anyone else for their opinion?
HA...I haven't consulted my parents on a big decision since high school! I did consult, mostly, my sister and my friends. When I told people my situation, many people, older woman mostly, weren't afraid to lend some advice. I am going to admit that I was scared due to the whole saying, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free," but I did get some good pointers:

1. Don't do anything in the 1st four months that you don't
want to do for the rest of your life.
2. Just realize -- they are a different breed.
3. They only think of three things, sex, sports and their "toys."
Everything, in their heads, are connected to these three things.


What do you think is going to be your biggest adjustment? And what do you think will be his biggest adjustment?
The biggest adjustment so far has been that he is anal about things that I couldn't care less about, such as when I come home from work, the first thing I like to do is fling my shoes off and put my bags (three of them) down, fully intending to pick them up later. HE CAN'T stand it so he starts talking to me as if I am a little kid. I'm like..."Jeremy, you are not my mother and I had every intention of picking that up later." His biggest adjustment is dealing with all my clothes, bath n body works products and make-up, oh and candles and "girly" touches to the house.

Do you have locks on your doors? (Hint: you might need them.)
YESSSS!!!!!!! Locks on every door, though we seldom use them, but just in case, they are there.

Interview with a soon-to-be cohabitator

Meet my friend Gretchen G. A couple weeks ago, or maybe it was a month, she asked me my opinion of living with my boyfriend and were the fireworks still there. More or less, she was asking me for my advice on living with your boyfriend. I tried and provided my opinion without pushing one or the other. In the end, I think her mind was made up but just needed to hear someone else's opinion. Needless to say, she's taking the plunge mid-February and here's some insight into her decision.

How long have you been dating the B.F.?
- We have been together a little over two years.

What was the final decision maker? ( Don't say financial reasons because all the experts say that's a big no-no.)
There are two of them:
- His roommate left and so the next natural move was to move in together so he didn't lose his townhouse (financial reason- haha)...
- Also... we are both big believers in living together before you get engaged. So in our tentative time line... we decided that it was time to move in and see what happened? We are both really excited!!! I guess you could say it was a "shit or get off the pot" kind of decision... haha


What did your/his parents say? Did you consult them for their opinion?
- My parents lived together and have been kind of excited for us to see if we can make it work. (mom specifically thinks a good step.)
- His parents are much more traditional, and his sister was engaged before they lived together... so they had a slightly different opinion. His mom a little nervous about it and his dad was more comfortable with it. They both figured that he was too old to tell him what to do. Plus, I know them very well and we get along....
- No we didn't consult them... we just decided and did it.

What do you think is going to be your biggest adjustment? And what do you think will be his biggest adjustment?
- my biggest adjustments? sharing one tiny bathroom (no storage). sharing food (I am a cheapskate- and i only buy Kroger brand). sharing TV (not gonna lie- love my lifetime movies and Oprah). ha ha
- his biggest adjustments? sleeping in the same bed all the time. feeling the pressure to be engaged from other people.

Do you have locks on your doors? (Hint: you might need them.)
- ha ha... well there are locks... I have never seen them locked and mike claims he is the key holder. ha ha. I WILL find them.