Thursday 10 January 2008

Reflections On Cohabitation.

I've never lived with anyone before.

Other than at home with my parents, that is. Or sharing a room whilst on holiday.

Having been dating Jason for a long time, I suppose I assumed that I would move in with him when the time was right, though I wouldn't have predicted doing it in a country other than Australia. It's already been over a fortnight since I've been here (crazy!) and I think that for a couple living together for the first time, we're doing well.

I daresay the novelty of finally settling down hasn't worn off, but I really am loving it.

I love waking up in the morning and grumbling about him turning the lights on while I'm still trying to get my fifteen extra minutes of shut-eye. I love him giving me a quick peck on the cheek before he leaves. I love being here when he comes home and working out what we're going to cook for dinner. I love saying goodnight to him and knowing he's next to me when I fall asleep. I love stealing all the covers.

I love it just being us.**

We're alot alike. We don't go out a lot. We save dinners out for special occasions - though there was that one time last week where we ended up in Chinatown by chance and treated ourselves to a dinner for the sake of it. We're quite alright with laying low and relaxing after work. If we're not chatting about something, we're comfortable doing our own thing. We are quite happy sitting side by side on cushions on the floor with our laptops out, typing away in companionable silence.

(My vice is blogging and scrabulous, his vice is sports news and lurking on my blog. Ha.)

Don't get me wrong, I know it's not always sunshine and rainbows. But I've known for a while that this is something I've wanted to do, and our personalities are a really good match. If we have issues, we'll sort them out. All I know is that working out routines for who cooks, cleans up, or checks the mailbox: they've never been more fun.

**Hi Mum! I do miss you guys, of course.
at

35 comments:

  1. rye10 January 2008 at 07:05

    Aww! I'm so glad things are going well for the both of you :) I like the image of you sitting side by side with your little laptops - haha!

    ReplyDelete
  2. She Likes Purple10 January 2008 at 07:08

    You are lucky! I know so many couples who find living together hard and difficult (and it is, rightly so) but it should be that fun and that exciting. It doesn't wear off, not completely.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The Casual Perfectionist10 January 2008 at 07:10

    I absolutely loved living with my bf (my hubby), and I love living with him now. I can't imagine living away from him. Things just 'clicked' and we knew it would work.

    Of course there are always little ways to compromise to make things run more smoothly, but you know you've found the right match when things work without too much trouble. :)

    I hope you had a good day at work today!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Audrey10 January 2008 at 07:14

    I'm so glad things are going to smoothly! Isn't it great when things work out that way?

    I hope figuring out cleaning routines works out as well for you as it did for us. Tim and I both hit our "OMG Can't take the mess anymore!" point at about the same time, so neither of us has to nag the other to clean. It's so nice.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Operation Pink Herring10 January 2008 at 07:19

    i'm so glad it's working out so well! Cohabitating is really excellent. I wouldn't have it any other way.

    ReplyDelete
  6. michelle and the city10 January 2008 at 07:21

    i definitely miss that. i'm so glad the cohabiting is going well :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. The Lisa Show10 January 2008 at 07:21

    Jeff and I lived together for two years before we married. It was rough sometimes especially when I needed my space, but it was the best thing ever, really (discounting marriage, of course). The first year, we were like playing house. Sometimes, it still feels like it. I'm so happy for you guys. Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Katie10 January 2008 at 07:29

    It is so fun living with your significant other! I think Jennie's right too; it doesn't completely wear off because I still catch myself thinking about how lovely it is to just be me and him being us :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Kristabella10 January 2008 at 07:32

    I'm glad things are going so well! Especially since the job thing has been a little touch and go!

    Good for you! You're all growed up! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kat10 January 2008 at 07:42

    I am glad that the cohabiting is going so well. The hubby and I feel the same. We do like to lay low and safe the going out for dinner for very special occasions.

    We generally love to be just the two of us.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jess10 January 2008 at 07:54

    I feel lucky because Torsten and I never really had any growing pains or settling in adjustment issues when we moved in together. It was and continues to be a positive experience much like you describe. I love it.

    Also, yes I paid for those boots in British pounds. Though because I'm outside the EU they took the VAT out, which saved me about 15 pounds, essentially negating the cost of international shipping.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Amber10 January 2008 at 08:04

    That was such a lovely post :) You guys sound a lot like Terry and I, and we've been living together for four years now without killing, or even maiming, each other, so it all sounds good!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Raven10 January 2008 at 08:06

    Aww!

    So sweet.

    I wish that our living together had gone so smoothly. Unfortunately my husband was graced with a mother who did (and does and would if she could every second of every damn day GAH!) everything for him and that made living with someone "who is not your damn maid thank you very much" a little difficult to get used to. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. ashley10 January 2008 at 08:06

    well this post just put a big smile on my face. how cute are you two?

    ReplyDelete
  15. katelin10 January 2008 at 08:08

    Aw I'm so glad that living together is working out. I'm thinking about moving in with my boyfriend soon and I feel like it's such a huge step. Granted I can't wait for that "us" feeling like you said, it's just so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  16. mostprepossessing10 January 2008 at 08:20

    My husband and I lived together before marriage and I am so glad. There are so many things about a person that could make them unlivable-with... Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  17. grungedandy10 January 2008 at 08:54

    How sweet if it's meant to be it's meant to be -
    Me & R moved in together after 5 weeks of dating, we were officially an exclusive couple after 2 days as I was going on holiday for 2 weeks! Moved in 2 weeks 3 days later. It wasn't smooth sailing all the time but it's been 11 years now! So something’s is right the thing to remember is not to take each other for granted
    Seeya hugya *G*

    ReplyDelete
  18. ~Mum~10 January 2008 at 10:09

    I'm glad it is all working out
    but don't sit there on your laptops all the time !!! get out and explore !!!

    love you - miss you

    ReplyDelete
  19. Larissa10 January 2008 at 10:12

    I hope co-habitation continue to be fun for you guys! When my husband and I moved in together, the transition was smooth, and we've loved every minute of it.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Erin10 January 2008 at 11:03

    I loved when Ted and I moved in together. Everything just seemed to click. It was great! I'm glad to hear things are going well for you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ree10 January 2008 at 11:45

    ;-) You make me smile daily.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Bee10 January 2008 at 12:03

    I'm with Ree.
    And thanks so much for checking out my blog. I told Mac, "My fave blogger commented!" It made my day. Glad you're having a great time shacking up.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Unnaturally Blonde10 January 2008 at 12:32

    I'm so glad you are happy!! We like to open some wine and hang out together, just relaxing instead of hitting the city streets most times. I love all of "our" time. It just keeps getting better :-)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Maya10 January 2008 at 13:39

    Ahh man! I can just picture you two lovebirds, tap-tapping away at your laptops. We didn't live together (well till we got married) but honestly, it was just the same. One day I came and tossed all my stuff in the closet and a week or two later, I couldn't imagine being by myself again. Silly, huh?

    ReplyDelete
  25. janet10 January 2008 at 14:17

    omg you are TOO. CUTE. I just love you being all lovey and stuff :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. EmilyPie10 January 2008 at 15:48

    We moved in together pretty early on. We've been living together for almost 4 years now, and I still feel like I'm playing house. I love it. Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  27. La11 January 2008 at 00:33

    Sounds like things are really working out well, and it's a wonderful feeling, isn't it? Yay!

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. natalie11 January 2008 at 01:29

    nice, it's hard to go from living on your own to living with someone else. yeaaaaaaa!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Aimee11 January 2008 at 03:32

    So glad things are working out so well! Everyone told Mark and I that the first year is the hardest. We had a round first 6 months (even with the sunshine and rainbows too) but after that it's been smooth sailing. :)
    Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Marriage-10111 January 2008 at 05:36

    I'm happy you guys are happy!

    ReplyDelete
  31. tiff11 January 2008 at 06:19

    Not vomit bag needed here.
    I remember when David and I first moved in together.
    Discovering all the new things, learning to live with all of the little things. It was exciting and I enjoyed it too.

    Now, almost twenty years on, if he's not next to me in the night, I find it hard to sleep. Just like if all the kids aren't in the house, it feels empty and too quiet.

    Enjoy this beautiful time.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Vanessa11 January 2008 at 14:20

    You guys sound like a cute couple! Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  33. cady12 January 2008 at 00:00

    i'm glad everything's going so well for you guys. joe and i lived together for about a year before we got married, and i loved it. i love coming home to him and falling asleep with him, among all the other things. it's wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Zandria12 January 2008 at 12:57

    I'm so glad things are going well with the whole first-time cohabitation thing. :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. angela13 January 2008 at 05:10

    You two are adorable! So glad to hear that you're so happy in your new life.

    ReplyDelete

Spare a thought?