One of my friends recently broke up with her long term boyfriend. They had been living together for years and she is having a hard time with the break up.

She said that they had merged their lives so much, it feels like she is going through a divorce. From finances to owning a pet together, untangling their lives is pretty painful.

While I won’t take away from her pain, I wondered if leaving a live-in situation could be compared to a marriage. Is living together that much like a marriage?

Does it have the same pros and cons? When a couple is “playing house” are they enjoying the benefits of marriage without the big commitment?

By Wise Diva, Misadventures in Atlanta Dating Blog