[Soft*Silver]

I have done it. And I also got burnt badly both times. However, I learned from those experiences. So, here goes:

time and presence. Make sure you have both and not too much or too little of each, for each other. Every new couple goes thru an emeshment time, a time of isolation and couple-bonding. However, for those who didnt get to date locally, this period can become very intense and that intensity can eat the novelty of the relationship away too soon. Novelty time is when you can inhale the other person and look at them with fairy dust in your eyes and fall in love. When you live together and havent had time to do the fairy dust time before reality sets in, it can dim the fairy dust.

money: yours theirs and ours. Make sure money matters are CLEARLY diagrammed. And dont merge all your monies together at first, Divide bills and other financial responsibilities how the two of you decide but maintain control of your money. At least at first.

Its amazing how much you learn about someone when you live with them. I moved in with B (not on nor ever was a member of any BF sites) and didnt know she liked to entertain close friends nude. No, really. Nude. Expect weirdness. But realize you have weirdness the other person has to acclimate to, too.

Did you meet each other's friends before you moved in? I didnt with one person and damn I wish I had. What do you do when their friends dont like you or you dont like them? Figuring it out once you've moved in together, isnt the best scenerio. However, if this is what happens, you will find out how committed your new partner is to your relationship, if not to you.

Find an activity you can do together. A hobby, a cause, a pet, something. But make sure its a mutual decision and not just what one person wants. I made my mistake by doing what *I* wanted, not what we would have liked to do together. (But, in my defense, the other person wanted to please me and agreed.)

Discuss small infractions to your senstivities. In other words, even tho you are in love and newly living together, they are going to piss you off or frustrate you or confuse you or scare you. Talk about these things or they will become dividers. They might be actual dividers but if you dont practice GOOD COMMUNICATION, things that shouldnt matter in the long run, will kill you in the short term.

Take care of yourself first. First. If you do this, you have enough to give the other person and you wont lose yourself being with them.