Never A Fiancée

I am a 29 year old woman. I have had 3 long term relationships in the past 10 years. Each of the men promised marriage but I have never received a proposal.

The Ring Excuse

I moved in with my current boyfriend after a year of dating and the promise that we would eventually be married. We've been together for 4-1/2 years now and I haven't recieved a proposal. We've talked about marriage and he always tells me he doesn't have enough money for a ring (even though I've told him several times that I don't care about the ring).

I have not been completely happy in this relationship. I'm always the one who cooks, cleans, and nags.

He Changes For Me -- Temporarily

Every summer, we go through a cycle. We don't enjoy the same activities. I feel the need to travel but he doesn't like to travel with me. Every summer decide I'm going to leave him but only make threats and never follow through. When I make these threats, he changes for the better for about 2 months (he takes me out, cooks, cleans), then it's back to the same old lazy boyfriend.

Love Without Common Interests

He is a sweet, genuine person with good intentions. He has recently been talking about how he wants to spend the rest of his life with me. I love him dearly but I don't know if I can live the rest of my life like this. I need a companion who will travel with me and enjoy the same things I enjoy.

My problem is that I am so concerned with his feelings and I don't want to see him sad that I just hang in there instead of moving out. Can this relationship work?

-- bb

Mensch, Lefty, Jody, and Hope answer this question.