Replies to 'Ready for Marriage?'

After reading your message, I can't help but think that you are me only 3 and a half years ago.  When I started to date my current bf I was a freshmen in college and was living an hour and a half away.  So for the first almost 4 years we were in a "long-distance" relationship... where we only saw each other on the weekends and talked on the phone during the week.  So like you I wasn't ready for marriage or to even live with each other. 

However, I have been out of school for over 2 years now and we just recently moved in together.  I thought that taking this step forward would show him how great marriage would be and how great living with each other would be.  I thought it would get him to want to get married soon.  We had even broke up for a month back in November 2005 and he came crawling back literally on his hands and knees, begging me to forgive and take him back.  He told me that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me and couldn't imagine living without me..... you know all the good stuff we want to here.   

Now we are back to where we were before the break up.  He doesn't want to talk about marriage and doesn't know when he will be ready/want to get married.  I am beginning to wonder if moving in together was the right thing to do because why should he buy the cow if he can get the milk for free?  We live like a married couple just without the committment.   

I don't know you and I don't know your boyfriend but if I were you I would have a long talk with him before you move in together and before you put anymore time and effort into the relationship.  You both have to be honest with what you want out of the relationship and what you see your future consisting of.  I know that he probably will put up a fess and not want to talk about it but you need to make sure he knows that this is something that is important to you and that you will not move in together or take any further steps until he fulfill your needs.  Of course this is only my advice but I know that I wish I had done this before I got to this point in our relationship.