Hold on...in most cases, he would be reliant on me. If he was able to (as in his hypothetical university was paying for it), what would be wrong with helping me with tuition? Or if I stick with the program I'm in now, sharing bills would take the pressure off from having to work more than I physically and mentally can while balancing with classes and working with after school programs at the high school I work at now which will help my resume. You know, so I could actually have time to sleep. Any way I do it, I'm either going to be dependent on someone, go into debt, or never sleep, burn out, and work myself to death.

And when I'm doing student teaching, I really can't work much because that's already a full time plus job. And since I don't get paid, why is it a crime to have someone to help me with that? Would it be better if my partner were a woman and it wouldn't have the stigma of "relying on a man"?

And yes, we are against living together unless we're at least engaged. He's leery about it before marriage, but there's probably a compromise to be made. I'm not necessarily against it, as we've been together almost four years, but it's not really my choice. If he says we're not ready, then we're not ready. I don't know anything.