Remember when you met your significant other (SO) and you were so nervous that you thought you might forget how to talk or accidentally throw up on them. Or maybe from the get go you felt so connected to them that instead of feeling nervous, you felt right at home.
Regardless of how your relationship started, there comes a point in any long term relationship where boundaries fail to exist. You become so used to having them around that the things you once did in private now seem to involve your SO. They’ve seen every possible side of you and show you every detail of them. Is it a blessing or a curse? Who knows.
These are some signs that your relationship has reached an optimal level of togetherness.
- You don’t hump each other in public anymore: Remember the first 6 months you dated where all you wanted to do was touch, touch and more touch. You would be shopping at the mall and completely forget that other’s could see you copping a feel at your partner’s booty. It was like you were a private show in an extremely public setting. You’ve now reached the stage where you either hold hands or walk side by side. Every so often, a peck on the cheek is appreciated. You learn to save what’s meant for the bedroom in the bedroom and not in the middle of Target right by the shoe department.
- You shower together almost always: The perks of showering together are endless. You save money on bills and for that twenty minute period, you feel freshly invigorated. You’re not at all self concious about your SO seeing you naked or shaving your armpits in front of them. Plus, it’s exciting. You get to wash the dirt off of each other. That’s enough to respark any relationship. And did I mention you save money? Seriously if you’re not showering together, do it now.
- You can cry in front of them: I’m going through this weird period in my life where anything on TV makes me cry. When somebody wins a gameshow or if someone on Masterchef has a touching backstory, I’m there. It’s like a waterfall of emotion. You can chalk it up to hormones or maybe you just like crying. Either way, you know longer feel embarrassed about your SO seeing that sensitive side of you. In fact, you pretty much use their shirt as a napkin.
- You take home leftovers and sometimes finish off their meal: If you see that last meatball on the edge of their plate, forget asking. You take a fork and launch for it. You also almost always ask for a to-go box because you know the importance of stocking up on groceries. No more looking like you’re curving your appetite. When you sit down for a meal, you go to town on that food like you’re competing in a professional food-eating contest.
- You go to the bathroom with the door open: Don’t ask me why having the door open creates an all new level of freedom. Maybe it’s the ten second time difference in closing the door or maybe it’s simply because you can. Either way, you’re okay with your SO seeing you on the toilet and vice versa. There are no surprises anymore.
- Your daily fights include but are not limited to: Who ate the last packet of pop tarts? Why has my show not been recorded? Why do you always steal the bedsheets? What is so difficult about you being the one to turn off the light at night? The last time you thought about something that actually warranted a break up is so far removed from your memory that you’re pretty confident you’re stuck with them forever.
- You play their video games and they watch your soap operas: Pretty self explanatory but your interests become shared. You find him asking you at dinner “when’s the next episode?” and you find yourself daydreaming about what weapon you’ll choose to shoot those evil zombies tonight.
- Your family treats your SO as one of their adopted children: You’re no longer afraid to leave them alone with your parents because every unavoidable question has been answered and you know that they’re no longer going to embarrass you. How could they? Your SO knows them so well, they could say anything at this point and it would be okay.
- You feel confident ordering for them at a restaurant: If you’re picking up take-out or forced to order while they’re in the bathroom, you have it under control. You know their regular meal options and you can get creative when needed.
- You can sleep without them but it will always feel uncomfortable: You’re so used to sleeping next to them that sleeping alone just feels strange. You’ve gotten accustomed to the bed sharing and not so bed sharing. And their snoring somehow soothes you to sleep. They’ve become a crucial part of your bedtime routine.
- Better out than in: You burp in front of them and they let one rip around you. We wish it were different, but hey that’s real love right there. Why keep something in when it was born to run free?
- You’re referred to as a package: People are so used to the idea of you two together that they rarely ask for you to separate. When you’re invited out, it’s almost always as a couple. And although you do have breaks from each other, it’s nice to have friends that consistently include the two of you.
- There’s no rules on who buys what: That whole guy buys everything, you split it 50/50, you take turns thing doesn’t apply to you. It’s really more about who takes out their credit card first and slams it down on the table. Or who spent the most money that week. You think more about each other’s finances than the rules society has set for your relationship.
- Nobody could ever possibly understand the real you: You act like a complete nut job in front of your SO because you know that they’ll love you no matter what. If anyone saw what your SO deals with on a day to day basis, they would more than definitely question your level of sanity.
- You could never picture yourself with anyone else: Not to get all sentimental and gushy. But, you’re so comfortable and on the same levels with your SO that being with anyone else is such a foreign thought to you. They compliment you in every way imaginable. Without them, you’d almost feel like less of yourself. Who would you fart in front of or argue about what brand of bread to buy? They have become your normal even if your relationship can be rather strange at times.