By Scott Power
Moving in with your partner isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Here are the 10 emotional stages you can expect to go through…
Moving in with your partner is one of the most momentous (and terrifying) steps you can take in a relationship. It’s a big deal when you officially decide to cram all of your stuff into one (probably cramped) space, and agree to wake up to one another’s ugly mugs pretty much every single day in the foreseeable future.
Giving up certain perks of living alone (farting, leaving your underwear on the floor, only cleaning when you want to) can be really challenging for some folks. That said, there are some truly blissful moments (splitting the rent!) as well.
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Here are 10 stages most couples go through when they move in together:
1. Excitement
Once you come to the conclusion that it’s a good idea to shack up, the anticipatory excitement – usually mixed with a little bit of trepidation and doubt, if we’re being honest – sets in and preparations begin. It’s about to get Pinteresting!
2. Accomplishment
Things get real once you sign your names on that lease. You realise this is actually happening and you might get some butterflies for the first time in a while. Don’t take this feeling for granted. Go out and celebrate your last remaining days of not sharing a bathroom!
3. Stress
Let’s make one thing clear: the first test of living together comes before you even actually live together – I’m talking about moving day. Sorry, but the act of packing, moving in and then unpacking is always a terrible time. Try to counteract the inevitable arguments with as much pizza and beer as possible.
4. Compromise
Is there anything worse than that Scarface poster he’s had since varsity becoming a focal point in your living room? No, but you’re going to have to compromise somehow. Maybe a nice white frame will do the trick?
5. Disgust
Maybe you knew he was kind of messy before, but now you’re certain that he truly does not understand the concept of a clothing hamper. Or that he’s not in the habit of putting the toilet seat down or doing dishes. On the flip-side, he’ll probably be wondering how it’s possible that women shed so much hair on a daily basis.
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6. Frustration
Couples fight. It happens. But the feuding dynamic changes when you move in together. It’s not like you can go home, because they live in your home. So that’s weird.
7. Acceptance
Everybody poos and everybody’s poo smells bad. But it definitely produces several emotions when you or your significant other can’t hold it and has to barge in while the other is in the shower. Which does happen sometimes. On the upside, you can now shower together whenever you feel like it.
8. Nostalgia
There will be times when you yearn for the old days when you lived alone and could pretty much do whatever you wanted. This will probably be a fleeting feeling, though, because you’ll soon realise that things are better now than they were before. (And if you don’t come to this realisation, well, you have some serious stuff to think about.)
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9. Adjustment
Before moving in, many couples don’t seem to realise that they will be together all the damn time. There will be days when the only time you’re not with them will be while you’re at work and sometimes you’ll spend the entire weekend together. Now might be a good time to start with that new fitness routine your partner has zero interest in.
10. Satisfaction
True fact: few things are greater than greeting your partner with a kiss at the end of a long day, or sharing some wine and conversation on the couch. Also, the bedroom is always just a few steps away (if you know what we mean). Enjoy it. You have what most other people want.
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