DEAR ANNIE: Strong cohabitation opinions

Dear Annie: I liked the advice you gave about not moving in with a partner too soon in a relationship, but my situation is quite the opposite. I have been with my boyfriend for 2 1/2 years (we are both in our late 20s), and it has recently come up that he would not consider marrying someone unless he has lived with the person for a minimum of a year. I would like to wait until marriage; I like the idea of building a home and starting a new chapter of life together as a married couple. I want my future husband to carry me across the threshold of our new home together. I also like the idea of having my own space until I’m ready to turn it into “our space.”

I understand his thoughts on the subject (see whether it works before you commit), but we spend six nights a week together already, so there isn’t anything new we would learn about each other by living together. We’ve already figured out who makes the coffee versus who makes the bed and those kinds of daily lifestyle arrangements. We basically do live together. I love my boyfriend, but I don’t want to stay in a relationship that has no potential for a future. Should I wait it out? Is there a compromise? – Don’t Want to Be Roommates

Dear Don’t Want to Be Roommates: If you’re both set on the same destination, there’s no sense in breaking up over the route. But make certain you do in fact agree on that destination. If he’s serious about cohabitation as a steppingstone, then propose a compromise. You’ll move in together after you’re engaged. If you can afford to move in to a new place, it might help establish that new-chapter feel.