Thanks for your long and well-thought out input.

A long-term relationship is just... well, both of us hate them and want to avoid them at all costs. I just don't even want to think about having one. It's not an option for us.

I need to move out of the area really, as soon as possible. If he doesn't want to move to Charleston, then next fall I want to move somewhere we're both okay with when I go back to school next fall. The thing is, he's known since around when we first started dating that (1) him living in my mom's house with me (which is where we live) was temporary and (2) that I wanted to move out of the DC area as soon as possible.

In fact, I had the opportunity to move last August, or last September... but I didn't pursue those opportunities very closely because in June or so, he needed a place to live. I really really liked him and knew that he was special, and so I stayed here and my mom and I gave him a place to live.

He doesn't move partly because he doesn't like the south, and partly because he just moved to DC from Richmond, VA last summer. I want to move because I've lived here all my life (except for about 4 months) and I feel the need to live and grow in a different town.

And I feel as reluctant to go to college in the area as he feels about moving to the south. It just depresses me and fills me with dread whenever I think about it.