According to a study by researcher Tyler Jamison of the University of Missouri-Columbia, more couples are choosing to keep their own residences rather than move in together.
“This seems to be a pretty stable and convenient middle ground between casual dating and more formal commitments like living together and getting married,” says Jamison.
The conclusions were drawn from the relationships of only 22 college students and graduates, so this type of living arrangement can hardly be called a trend.
However, it does suggest that many people in relationships, especially those who need a lot of alone time to recharge, may be happier with their own space.
Instead of committing or marrying and sharing a home, if you can afford it, why not live next door to or near each other? Instead of merging your lives together and trying to compromise about living arrangements, you’ll avoid irritating each other and also maintain your identity and independence. Best of both worlds.
Again, it’s not for everyone, but neither are all the traditions of marriage.
Copyright © 2011 Stephen Petullo
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