Got milk?

I stumbled across a recent article on living together before marriage, specifically:

5 Reasons You Should Live Together Before Getting Married

From adolescence to approximately the age of 30, I was convinced…both by my Catholic school brainwashing as well as alleged “scientific” studies against shacking up, that I would not cohabitate before a wedding. I would faithfully and shamelessly charge full price for my milk if the bachelor wouldn’t buy the cow.

Ironically, Mr. Big is lactose intolerant and can’t consume too much dairy at one time. Shocking, I know.

The reporter in me even took over at times, surveying countless Mr. & Mrs. couples about their personal experience on the subject. Without fail, a long laundry list of pros and cons were compiled. In other words, no clear answer.

When Mr. Big & I lived in the same city (intermittently ~ between his jet-setting job relocations, leaving us to sustain long distance companionship), we consciously decided not to move in together. The driving reason was to avoid upsetting our human creators.

Hey - what can I say? We’re recovering extreme parent pleasers.

Then suddenly, I’m 32, and had the choice to continue fostering romance across the miles…or do something about it. I mustered up a whole lotta courage to pack my bags, leave my job, leave my friends…all for a manfriend. Incidentally, I felt confident with the status of our union, more importantly — our future, and realized that sharing the day-in and day-out experience under one roof really couldn’t hurt.

Maybe even help.

Did I think, after a decade (!!) of dating, that I’d suddenly learn some newfound, scary insight about the guy? Hell no. But regardless, to jump from a long distance dynamic to being legal lovers seemed like a step was missing — and getting our feet wet at the same mailing address was the answer.

I’m not gonna lie though, I wanted a commitment before hopping in the Uhaul truck, with a carat or so as evidence. When he lived in Phoenix, a small town in Virginia, and then Atlanta, I consistently stood my ground with conviction, “Hear Ye, Hear Ye. I will not move for a man.” The sacrifice wasn’t worth it; if in fact we imploded…and I’d be left in a foreign zip code all alone.

So here I am we are, two months have passed, and everything has gone exactly as planned. Which, I’m highly aware, is an exception in life; nothing ever goes according to self-fulfilling agendas.

• The transition from two independent people — to somewhat dependent roommates sleeping in the same bed has basically been seamless.
• We adopted a dog, long over due; Gracie is the light of our lives who makes us laugh non-stop.
• Our careers are equally challenging but fulfilling.

Life is, chocolate milk sweet.