You know what I hate? When people (or more often, movie characters) say, "You just know," when referring to significant others. I even had an older relative once tell me that they just knew "like you know about a good melon." But even that bewilders me - many a time I have cut open a not yet ripe cantaloupe.
So how on earth do these people know? And for that matter, what is "knowing"?
I do know this: People I graduated from high school with are married, I have engaged college friends and just about everyone I know wants to know if things are serious with my boyfriend and me.
I also really hate the idea that girls still go to college in pursuit of a Mrs. degree, but the truth is, we're at an age (or approaching it) when thinking about marriage and moving in together and merging lives forever and always is not so crazy anymore.
I'm honestly shocked my pen is producing this romantic comedy fluff.
And yet I can't help but seriously consider moving away with my boyfriend upon graduation.
When did it all get so serious? What happened to the fun and games? And how you know when you're ready for that next step?
Just a few months ago I publicly outed myself as a relationship-phobe, and now this?
In pursuit of answers, I did a very lame thing. I thought about my own relationship and listed all the reasons I really enjoy being with my boyfriend (read: I was bored in a lecture). So here's what I've gathered, and hopefully the list can serve as your own litmus test as well:
I'd rather be together than apart.
I'm happy 95 percent of the time. There's only so many times a girl can hear about your fantasy football team, ahem, ahem…
The thought of being with anyone else is mind-boggling.
His once annoying traits are now somewhat endearing.
A life without my other half sounds unfulfilling and sad.
Oh, shit.
Perhaps "knowing" is finding a person you semi-perfectly connect and communicate with. Knowing means acknowledging that one person can never totally fulfill another.
A person who enriches your life while encouraging you to seek your own happiness is the kind of person worth holding on to.
Perhaps "just knowing" is not so difficult. It's just a convergence of our internal compasses with our rationalizing selves, after all.
Finding a good melon, however, I could still use advice on.
