Good luck :) I wouldn't say the first month is the hardest, that is probably the easiest month. It is more around month 4, 5 or beyond where the "little" things may get to you. As long as you are both flexible, it should be fine.

Also, as long as you don't back yourself in a corner where you NEED to live with him, then it will be good. Always give yourself an out just in case :)

indy; if you are at his house almost night and work/school ? all day....don't you think you've already abandoned your pet?

She's not enjoying the benefit of a loving owner. you come home, get your stuff for the next day and leave her alone....it must suck for her. She'll be better off where she can get some attention.

My BF has asthma and the cat hair made it worse....giving up my 2 cats weren't an option. If he wanted me, he accepted my pets...they were there before him. He went to the doctor, had tests, went on Singulair and Advair...eventually built up a tolerence.

Actually - my other roommate is very good to my baby girl (even though my roomate and i have personal problems - she is very good to my cat) - and believe me - i DO stop by the apartment every day basically to see her to make sure she's ok. and on the nights i HAVE stayed home - i baby my cat every second i get. so believe me - she DOES get TONS of attention. i have NOT abandoned my cat. and i know i'll get flamed for this - but i'm going to say it regardless. as much as i truly do LOVE my cat - and i've LOVED having her for these past couple of years...and yes - i KNOW i've had her longer than i've known my boyfriend...the truth is - my boyfriend IS a human being and someone I love and care for deeply and yes, i agree he SHOULD be understanding that i'm a pet owner - but as much as I love my cat - i would choose him over her. i'm just very happy that my mother wants her and i DON'T have to "give her up" all together.

Think about it guys - if i DIDN'T truly love my cat - i COULD just be one of those people who "accidentally" let her out of the house or go and abandon her somewhere - i would never - COULD NEVER do that to her...which is why it's taking me a LOT to give her up to my mother - but i KNOW she'll be babied and get the attention that at this point in my life i juist can't give her right now. and, i know i'll get flamed for this too - cuz i know many people treat their pets like they ARE their children - but there is a difference...it's JUST a cat - it's not as if she's my child - cuz believe me - if i had a child and a boyfriend didn't want her - the guy'd be gone faster than i could say, "bye". and AS a RESPONSIBLE pet owner - giving up my cat TO my mother - who i KNOW will love and baby my cat and i'll STILL be able to see her when i want to - i believe that IS doing the responsible thing. :)

sorry, I was going by what you said in your beginning post, you referred to your apartment as your "storage shed"....

you must have a great roommate who cleans the catbox for you too. I know I have to scoop more than once a day....

I think maturity is a primary factor in whether moving in will work. I also think that sometimes you just "know" that is it the right thing to do.

My husband and I knew we would marry each other after only dating three months and were engaged at 7 months. We, however, didn't move in together for another four months due to finances and living in different cities.

On the other hand, my brother in-law moved in with his girlfriend early on in the relationship because she had nowhere else to go. They are having problems and are now both moving back home. I think that it's good in the sense that they got to see what it was like before jumping into more and maybe in the long run it'll be better for thier relationship (they are still dating.) They are really young though, so like I said I think maturity is a factor.

I think what I'm trying to say is that you should follow your heart, but make sure you have somewhere to go in case it doesn't work out.

Indy...it sounds like you know what you want...and that's great! I never was judging you about moving in with him (if you interpreted that way). I think everyone knows what's right for him/her. Only they can truely make that decision. It will be a step of advancing the relationship and that's always good. It will either make or break one (i've known ppl who had dated for years and then moved in and it killed the relationship). But it sounds like you are going into it with an open heart/mind and as long as you are doing that...your a step in the right direction. Good luck with it. Just remember to take it day by day...things will be good. Like i said, just relax and enjoy..don't sweat little things. Sorry if i stirred the pot...but i am very emotional about a few things in life...and that was one of them. Hope the move goes well...trust me...that alone is trying...almost wanted to kill my DH this weekend during our move...but i guess we survived for now LOL...still have more moving to do next week.

believe me - i've had enough apartments to know what the polices are and how to get out of a lease, etc...etc...he and i both make more than enough $$ seperately that $$ is NOT the reason we're moving in together - we really care deeply for each other and this is definitely a decision we've both thought a LOT about and have decided - that yes, even this early on - it's the right decision for both of us. Again - it's not as if we're very young - i'm 27 and have lived on my own for 7 years - he's 33 and has been on his own for 11. we've both been in numerious relationships that had their ups and downs and we're both ready to take this step with each other. we are VERY open with each other and the communication is great. and yes - we both also know and understand that there's going to be a LOT more that we're going to learn about each other and some things we're not gonna like - but hey - that's life. right? isn't that what relationships are all about? learning about each other? :)

so - IF anything DID happen and it DIDN'T work out...i know i wouldn't be "stuck" in an apartment. i'm not some dumb under-paid ignorant chick who doesn't know how to take care of myself. i make a very decent living and again, i've lived in more than enough apartments and even WORKED for one before - that i understand the financial penalities of moving out early - and PLUS...as OF right now - the REASON i'm moving in with him into his place BEFORE we sign our own lease is so we KNOW whether we're totally ready in 3 months if we're gonna want to sign a years lease (or hopefully longer) together.

i understand why people are saying, "be careful" - because, unfortunately things don't work out the way you want them to all the time...i can't even BEGIN to tell you the amount of heartbreak i've dealt with in my lifetime - and i'm ONLY 27!!! but - at the same time - i also can't prance around this relationship on my tip-toes either, always thinking that something bad is going to happen. I know i have to keep myself grounded always knowing that something COULD happen - but again, at the same time i HAVE to trust him and ALLOW myself to believe that this IS the real thing.

and yes, i also know that he is in it for the long haul. he's ready and willing to take this relationship further which is WHY we're moving in together - because it's what we both want and believe is the right thing to do for the both of us right now. :love: :goodvibes :D

first off...i really SHOULD be doing work!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahha.

anyways though...i just wanted to reply. again - AS a pet owner - i DO understand where you were coming from. i HATE having "catfights" (no pun intended) on these boards. :) and i don't want to get INTO a fight with you or anyone else - but at the same time - because I DID post my first post and this thread is all about my situation - i felt the need to defend myself. :) But thanks for the reply - i'm sorry i wasn't clearer to begin with and i do understand why you got defensive yourself. i'm just glad we're on the same page - and again, no fighting. :P

and as i said earlier in a different post - i do understand and know that EVERYONE's situations and opinions are different - which is why i posted my question here in the first place - just to get some insight on how other's dealt with moving in with their sig. others for the first time. Some people HAVE made it after only moving in with each other between 1 - 6 months - some people won't do it for 6 months to a year - some won't do it til a YEAR or MORE after they've met - and many still hang on to the fact of not wanting to until after they've been married. Everyone's situation is different and that's why i asked to read about everyone's situations to begin with - just to get insight on how different everyone is. :D

as for my cat - yes, unfortunately that is a factor in this move and again, it's a very hard decision - but as i repeat - i'm NOT giving her up entirely - my mom loves my at as much as i do - and i know i'll still see her whenever i want/need to for the rest of my life. :D