Home is wherever I'm with you

"In hindsight you signing another year's lease wasn't the best idea," Abraham admitted.

We were setting up the Femme Fatale's standing dog bowls in his kitchen, which I had brought from my apartment at his request. "Now she's all moved in," he had smiled.

It's my stuff that isn't moved in. He hasn't said so explicitly, but I imagine I could move in any time I wanted.

"I guess you'd have to put some things in storage," he said.

"You're funny. We're just getting rid of your things," I patted his shoulder.

I don't regret signing the lease, even though the new lease doesn't even take effect until November and then will go another year. I need a place to live. I need a spot for my life and for my dirty underwear, even if most nights my intown apartment is unoccupied because I'm sleeping in the suburbs. After everything I've been through, I need a place that is mine until we've finalized an ours. Signing a 6-month lease would have been more expensive and would have given us a deadline. With a year's lease, I don't feel any pressure.

Abraham said I could live with him and his roommate, but I've read enough advice columns on the Internet to know that three's a crowd. She's been there less than a year and I'm not going to kick her out of her home.

"She just got a raise; maybe she'll get her own place," he offered.

"I doubt it. She's also in a serious relationship and she's probably waiting him out like me. I was supposed to buy a house this year, remember?"

"You're welcome. I just saved you over a hundred thousand dollars. But yeah, I see your point."

Maybe I'd be more decisive about my timeline if I knew the roommate's. But then again, it seems silly to put my relationship on hold for her. Abraham and I have been together longer and are more serious. She's had the serious talks in her relationship, she's perhaps had more (her boyfriend once said that her getting pregnant wouldn't be a terrible thing), but Abraham and I have had more action. We've said the I love yous and have spent purposeful time with each other's parents. Besides, maybe she is aware of this and is waiting on us to move in together as an excuse for her to move into her boyfriend's house. Maybe she also knows three is a crowd.

"Maybe you could sublet your place," Abraham offered.

I'm not really comfortable letting someone else live in my apartment, mainly because I'd be responsible for any damage he/she does.

"Katie's boyfriend broke his lease to move in with her. He had to pay $1,800, but then again, that's two months' rent. I'm not sure how I feel about that," I muttered.

"Well let's say your rent is $1,000 a month. That's $12,000 a year. You'd pay $4,000 to move out, but you'd be saving $8,000 in the long run."

I whimpered at the amounts. I'd hate theoretically paying $4,000 just to not live in my home anymore. I hate wasting money, but I'd rather waste it than rush into living together.

I'm not in a hurry. Maybe because I know it will happen eventually, so I don't feel the need to jump through hoops to make it happen. Maybe I'm still a little shell shocked about the last time I lived with a boy. Maybe I just want to wait until I'm engaged and have more security than I did last time.