I’d have to agree it was a good idea to walk, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now.
It might not be the socially acceptable norm, but I have heard of people who got married, carried on living separately in their own houses and they say it helps their relationship. For most people it’s probably not practical even if it crossed their minds, but I think it makes sense and it’s a better arrangement for some. Your plan to wait until kids were older was sensible, even if you’d got married and had a fair financial plan agreed.