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Moving in with your girlfriend is a huge deal. In life-change terms, it’s a biggertransition than getting married. Though you don’t get the recognition from your family andfriends that comes with tying the knot, you’re going through a huge day-to-day shift whenyou move in with a woman. We’re all for cohabitation before marriage, andthere are plenty of reasons why shacking up with your girlfriend is a great idea. Youcreate a home together. You develop an ad hoc cuisine that is native to only the two ofyou. (You’ll know something special has happened when you walk into the kitchen and she’smaking that cottage-cheese-and-pickles mix you’ve been dipping Triscuits into since youwere seven — and she’s making it for herself.)But there are plenty ofunpleasant surprises, too. Suddenly, the spontaneous visits from your buddies requirecall-aheads. Sometimes you want to spend Sunday afternoon watching sports highlights andeating Hot Pockets, but she can’t stand the thought of staying inside on a beautiful dayand shames you into going out to brunch against your will. Before youmake the big transition into cohabitation, it’s a good idea to adjust your expectationssomewhat. Here, allow us to help. The Two-TVsMyth: You’ll combine your possessions, and there’ll be an extraTV for the bedroom. Sweet!Reality check: She probably won’tlike a lot of your most beloved stuff, starting with your choice of wall-hangings. Artworkis deeply personal, after all, and that framed map of Yosemite that you’ve had sincecollege might not make the cut. And TV in the bedroom is terrible for a relationship.Resist the urge. The Bro-Integration Myth: You’llcontinue with your regularly scheduled nights out with the boys, only now you’ll come hometo a welcoming embrace in bed and hot coffee the morning after. Realitycheck: What she didn’t know before couldn’t annoy her, but now she’ll see just howblotto you tend to get when you and the guys decide to really throw down, and she probablywon’t like what she sees. You’ll have to tone it down a little bit, trust us. The Live-In Maid Myth: Of course you plan to do your part, butshe’s just better at this stuff. You occasionally Swiffered your own place, butlet’s be honest — Swiffers just move the dirt around. She’s probably going to actuallymop sometimes, which will be awesome. Reality check: You willbe expected to do your share of the chores and pick up after yourself — this is just oneof the realities of shacking up. And once she notices something that irritates her, she’sgoing to bug you about it until you’re fully conditioned — yes, we said conditioned — tochange. This means that along with a slightly cleaner living space, you will be livingwith about 56% more criticism from her. You may, in low moments, wish you could go back toliving alone with your clothes blissfully strewn all over the floor. That’s natural.
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[Source: Dating & Sex on AskMen]