without rings and contract BAD IDEA FOR THE GIRL....THE GIRL IS THE PRIZE NOT

THE GUY....MAKE THE BOY EARN THE COOKIE......

I would say wait at least one year before you even start to discuss moving in together. Of course it is different for every couple.

I agree with your thoughts on this topic. I've being divorced now for nearly 8yrs. Had two long term relationship since then. And both ended due to the fact I did not want us "just" moving in together. Long story short. I wanted more, they weren't ready r didn't want that kind of comment. I move on cuz I didn't want to be just someone's forever gf. I know marriage is not a "must" for some ppl. Although for me it is a "must" before I would ever move in with someone. Different strokes for different folks I guess.....

I have a small plastic key ring. Would that do?

I agree with your thoughts on this topic. I've being divorced now for nearly 8yrs. Had two long term relationship since then. And both ended due to the fact I did not want us "just" moving in together. Long story short. I wanted more, they weren't ready r didn't want that kind of comment. I move on cuz I didn't want to be just someone's forever gf. I know marriage is not a "must" for some ppl. Although for me it is a "must" before I would ever move in with someone. Different strokes for different folks I guess.....

I don't think it is as much a gender thing if pregnancy is out of the picture but if you can be saddled with the first or another kid by living with someone then the time to get into it should be equal to how long it would take you to get out of it. That is about twenty five years with a kid.

One can try to be politically correct and blah blah blah about how pregnancy is not a disability but get real with many people pregnancy equals major physical issues and many weeks and sometimes months where the mother can not work to sustain herself and child support is only as dependable as the person who wants to pay it.

On both sides of the fence I would be thinking seriously about education and job skills. What you are willing to do when you are young and dumb or at least strong is a lot different in being stuck doing a crappy job with no education because you can't afford to stop working to support your "family formal or informal.

And you have to see how your family is going to react. If you put your family in the position to try to negotiate your live in relationship you can't really expect them not to have avested interest if you end up a co-parent with someone or they get attached and are not that eager for you to break up and move back home.

And you can put your name on stuff, keep seperate accounts, and so on but when you live with someone you co-mingle funds and nothing poisons something as when yours, theirs, and "ours" is not clearly defined going in.

The courts are not going to bail your behind out if the division of finances it unequal which happens more often than anyone wants to acknowledge.

If your partner becomes your punisher they can do a lot of damage to your future finances, health, and relationships if they choose to. And if you have a kid all bets are off if you think when push comes to shove that it will be fair. More parents end up looseing coustody and or the relationship they have with theri kids shacking up than just about any other way besides criminal behavior.

So yea put some ground rules in writeing and go it to it with eyes wide open. AND TAKE YOUR TIME. Work into it. Try a vacation together and rent something month to month you can get out of easy even if it is less "comfortable'.

I say you do like the 90 day same as cash thing.....you and your bf/gf make it to 90 days then consider it. If not....it's like same as cash....you move along.

Nope. I never have been very demanding, like some girls would insist on diamonds. Diamonds never interested me much and they still don't. But if I make another commitment, I'm going to assume -and hope- it's the last one this life, a lasting one, so the ring better be bloody good!

Would that come with lasting interest?

I say you do like the 90 day same as cash thing.....you and your bf/gf make it to 90 days then consider it. If not....it's like same as cash....you move along.

Just as good as a Wal Mart guarantee.

Hi Sitka Rains, I was just saying were is SitkaRains? Hope you are well.

When SHE brings it up or starts hinting ;-)