Co-habitation

Should mates live together prior to marriage? In today's society more and more couples are living together before tying the knot; if they ever marry at all. But is it conducive to a healthy relationship? Making the decision to live together is a huge step in a relationship and not one that should be taken lightly. It may lead to happily ever after or it may have you running from his foot odor and bad habits faster than a pig at a luau. It is imperative that you both assess the situation thoroughly and realistically. No matter how well you think you know or like a person, once you move in together you will find out some things about that person that you do not like. Whether it's clipping his toe nails in bed, her anal retentiveness, or his incessant nitpicking. There will be something.

Finding out your mate's bad habits prior to marriage may be a good thing. Living together could help you decided whether you really want to spend the rest of your life with someone who refuses to put the toilet seat down. It may allow you to see all the flaws of your sweetie but it may also let you see a side of him/her that you didn't know existed. Perhaps your man likes to do the laundry or clean the kitchen or maybe your lady secretly loves to watch spike tv and drink beer with dinner. Living together may be the push needed to go ahead and say I do or it may be the wake up call that you need to move on.

On the other hand, many people believe it is wrong and sinful to co-habitat with your significant other prior to jumping the broom. They believe you are allowing him to "get the milk without buying the cow" and he'll never want to marry you. This position has some merit. I have seen women who've decided to live with their mates and five years later they are still waiting on a ring. The mate tells her that there's no need in trying to fix something that ain't broken. He/she believes that the relationship you two have together is working just fine and there's no need for a ring or marriage. Of course almost every woman wants a wedding or at least a nice size diamond ring on her left ring finger.

So living together can be a blessing or a curse. That is why it is imperative to set some ground rules and really discuss what both mates expect from the arrangement and the relationship. Don't do it for the wrong reasons like because you want to be able to have sex more often or just because it will save you money. In the long run, those factors won't be able to save a dying relationship. In the end, only the two people who are contemplating living together know what's right for them. No one on the outside looking in can make that decision for them. Just remember it is a huge step that shouldn't be taken lightly so please, please take your time and do it right!!! Until next time- Peace!