[PSY]

Before making any big decisions, I would suggest bringing up your concerns with your boyfriend. You may be able to work out some (or all!) of these issues with the use of effective communication. For example, if you want to "spice things up" and have new experiences, you may be able to get that freedom while still dating your boyfriend. You don't always have to do things as a couple - if you want to go out and have fun with friends (as long as it doesn't involve cheating on your boyfriend or doing anything dangerous), then you should be able to do that! Having a sense of individuality is always a good thing in a relationship. You shouldn't have to becoming a "housewife" or a "couch potato" because your boyfriend has a sedentary lifestyle. Furthermore, with some effective communication, you may discover that your boyfriend isn't actually interested in getting married. Maybe visiting the jewelry store was just a "joke" for him as well!

A few years ago, I needed to reassess my relationship of over four years. I ended up creating two lists. One was a "pros and cons" list. You're probably familiar with those: make a list of what you like and what you don't like about your relationship. Some things can be changed with effective communication (ex. having more freedom to do things on the weekends, with or without your boyfriend), and some things can't (ex. differences in religious beliefs). The other list outlines what you want in your future husband. I suggest limiting the list to 20 items. Think about what is most important to you. For me, I quickly discovered that there were some qualities my boyfriend at the time didn't possess, and would never possess. Maybe your boyfriend's age isn't really the issue here - it could be his lifestyle, and you need to decide if you're okay with his current lifestyle, or if you want to find the "middle ground," or if you want to leave him be and "move on."

I want to wrap up this post with a comment about the "practical" side of relationships. I understand that some people are reluctant to break up because they're concerned about where they will live, how they will get by financially, etc. My advice is to avoid inhibiting yourself for "practical" reasons. There are ALWAYS ways to get around the "practical" reasons. For example, you and your sister could move out and find another roommate, or ask your boyfriend to leave and replace him with another roommate. You could move in with another family member or friend and offer to do chores until you can pay rent. You could seek out local organizations (government or non-profit) and ask for assistance. Staying with someone because it's "practical" will always come back to haunt you in the end. If you do decide to break up with your boyfriend, come up with a plan... but please, don't let the "practical" reasons become excuses to be miserable about the situation you're in.