Shacking Up (Electronic book text)

CHAPTER 1
You're Thinking of Doing What? ?
Yes, the unthinkable has happened. After all those years of dating hell, you've found a man who appears to be a candidate for a long-term relationship. (We'd say "Mr. Right," but we don't want to jinx it.) At this point, you're spending almost every night with the object of your affection. You've become a pro at commuting across town with a change of clothes in your shoulder bag (thank goodness for microfiber ). But you're growing tired of the commute and forking out dough for an apartment that's little more than a walk-in closet. Then, as if he's reading your mind, the guy in your life pops the question. No, not THE question, but the other question: "What do you think about moving in together?"
Your heart skips a beat. Your head spins with visions of cozy home-cooked dinners for two and shopping together at Pottery Barn for new slipcovers and matching silverware. Oooh, yes, you can picture it. A place of your own. A real apartment with real furniture. No more schlepping back and forth or paying double rent. But then, before you can finish your celebration dance, you feel a sinking sensation deep in your stomach. Is moving in with Mr. Possibility really a good idea? Would it be a step toward marriage or simply a means of saving money? Can you live 24/7 with someone who leaves empty pizza boxes lying around his apartment? What in heaven's name would you tell your parents? ?
Welcome to the wonderful world of twenty-first-century relationships. Gone are the days of formal courtship and living with Mom and Dad until you're hitched. Today, for many of us, shacking up has become a new step in the mating process. But that doesn't mean it's right for you, right now. Oh sure, some people say it can help you determine whether your relationship is marriage-worthy. Others claim that it will set you up for a huge disappointment. Yada, yada, yada. There are lots of opinions, views, and misinformation floating around out there that can be a bit confounding for smart, conscientious girls like us. Fear not: We're here to help. From this point forward, you'll have a couple of savvy sisters to guide you through the muck.
To a bunch of you, shacking up may seem the natural choice. But even if you're already convinced that moving in together is the way to go, we urge you not to skip ahead. You see, there can be downsides to bucking tradition. Plus, the research is fuzzy as to whether living together is a good test drive or a freeway wreck waiting to happen. For goodness' sake, we wouldn't want you to lease the car only to find out it's a lemon. So you need to tread carefully and truly understand what you may be getting yourself into. As they say, only fools rush in In this chapter, we'll present all of the pros and cons of shacking up with your mate, so you can weigh them before reaching a final verdict. Hey, the last thing you want is to become a serial live-in chick or wind up in Heartbreak Hotel, right?
The Case for Cohabitation
In case you've been too busy climbing the corporate ladder to notice, shacking up is the thing to do these days. In the past ten to fifteen years, this once daring move has become as common as Internet dating and Kate Spade bags. The number of lovebirds sharing nests in the United States jumped by 72 percent in the last decade, according to the 2000 Census. University of Michigan sociol