Just wondering what the next step in a relationship could be besides engagement/marriange or moving in together. My boyfriend and I both want the same thing but I believe the next step is engagement and he believes it is moving in together. I’m wondering if anyone can give an alternative? We’ve been together for over 5 years but do not live together. We do want to be together and get married and live together. He feels forced to be engaged before livivng together, and I feel forced to live together before engagement. So we’re stuck at an impass. Any suggestions?

My best guess is, if you move in together, he'll lose any interest in getting married. After all, why bother getting married? he'll say.

You said you and your boyfriend want the same thing. Please tell me what that is. I somehow missed that part.

The next step is the one you both agree on that works for you both. That's the hallmark of any relationship isn't it, working together? If you cannot figure that out then what's this relationship going to come too? I mean after 5 years seems you both should know what to expect from a commitment to each other. Not a good sign that neither of you can budge enough to make that next step so it seems very simple to me, you keep talking until it's resolved.

Are you really sure you both want the same thing? Maybe you should make sure of that part before you consider what that next step is. I would think you would be engaged already to be honest.