Pros and cons of living with your significant other.

I don’t kill spiders.

I can’t and I won’t. Maybe I should clarify- the tiny little things smaller than a pencil tip? Sure. Any bigger than my pinky nail- that’s boyfriend territory. That’s when I shout and freak out calmly say to D that there is a GIANT KILLER spider and it’s going to eat me. And he comes over to wherever I’m yelling from and removes the threat.

So, as an ode to not killing spiders, I figured I’d share the top 10 perks and the low points of living with your significant other. Number one clearly being not having to kill spiders.

2. I am a movie talker. I’m sorry. I’m one of those people. But if I don’t quite understand what’s going on or I missed something I want to know RIGHT NOW what’s going on. That’s where D comes in. Sounds simple, but SO important to have someone there who can’t doesn’t get annoyed with me asking questions all the time.

3. Opening jars. Enough said.

4. I have someone to force me to workout support my workout ambitions.

5. Scared of that thing that sound that could totally be creepers but is probably a cat outside in the bushes? Big strong boyfriend man to the rescue.

6. Need some reassurance after a rough day at work? D knows the words I need to hear.

7. Sometimes I come home and the dishes are MAGICALLY clean. So that’s pretty neat.

8. You get the perks of being married… without actually having to get married. You get to know each other on a deeper level. Everything from bad habits to what they are like when they’re unbearably cranky to their deepest dreams and fears and hopes.

9. Cuddling. Cuddling every day.

10. Living in the comfort of knowing that every day you get to go to sleep and wake up with a person who loves you for everything that you are and supports you in your every goal and is there for you 100%.

And now the cons:

1. Remember up in pros how I talked about knowing their bad habits? Yeah, that. For example, you learn that they leave their shoes right at the bedroom door every night so you trip over them in morning. Every. Night. They also learn how you go through phases of cleanliness like the phases of the moon (read: some weeks I don’t like to clean).

2. Sharing a bathroom. Men are dirty. Enough said.

3. Money talks are…uncomfortable. But if you’re actually ready for it, they become easier. Finances are a touchy subject for most anyone, so you have to be ready and willing to talk openly about them and what your goals are.

4. They are ALWAYS there. Again, good and bad. Having him around is the best thing ever, but sometimes, alone time is pretty great as well. Thankfully, our work schedules have allowed us to have time alone.

5. Less quality time together. I know this one seems counter-intuitive because you are together a lot of the time. But there’s a difference between hanging out in front of a TV show and spending real, intentional, time together. It’s important to remember to still plan out date nights and keep things fun.

D moved up to Chicago last weekend, which means I have about 2 more weeks now of living alone before I follow up to Chicago as well. We won’t be living together in Chicago (I’ll be in TFA housing and then living a bit closer to where I’ll be working) which is a bummer but we know this is what’s best for both of our respective careers. Plus, we get the excitement of making plans and dating again! So really it’s all good.

What do you think? Have you lived with a boyfriend/girlfriend before? What were the good and bad aspects? Or would you even consider it?