How do you know when it's time to move on out of a relationship? My partner doesn't have any horrible habits, I am not abused in any way... but after living together for 6 years we are still just living together. I brought up the "M" word (marriage) when we had lived together two years and several times since then. He voiced his reservations and hesitations. I want to be married but evidently he does not. Now I feel that I have pressured him and even if he DID ask me now it would not be a spontaneous, joyous occasion. It would seem I just forced him into it because he says he is afraid of losing me. It just seems all wrong now.

I love straight forward questions like yours. As soon as I read a question like that, I have an answer and it usually goes something like this...

"When is it time to move on?"

When you start asking yourself questions like that - it's time to move on.

But that more often than not comes across as quite harsh.

I don't mean for that to happen. It just seems such an obvious answer.

Life is short and none of us are getting any younger... If in doubt leave it out.

You've been together for 6 years, but where is the communication and the willingness to work together? If you are afraid to bring up the way you feel then that should show you where you need to work on this relationship. When you cannot at least talk, forget going to the next level. You still have work to do on this level.