DEAR ABBY: I have been living with "Daryl" for more than three years. I am 25; Daryl is 27. He seemed very committed and affectionate, and he's hardworking and well-educated, so I thought we had everything.
He promised me seven months ago that we would get engaged. We looked at rings together, and he told me I should leave the rest to him.
Because it has been seven months and I still don't have a ring, I confronted him. Now he says that he "isn't ready," and he isn't even sure I'm the woman he is going to marry! He says he "thinks" I am, but he doesn't want to make any promises. He also says he loves me and doesn't want me to move out or break up with him. He is willing to set up a spare bedroom for himself so we can have our space.
Abby, I feel betrayed. I was waiting for the ring and now it isn't coming. Should I move out? -- RINGLESS IN BRIGHTON, MASS.
DEAR RINGLESS: Yes. The ring isn't what's important, but what the ring symbolizes is. If after three years of living together your boyfriend still isn't able to decide whether you're the woman he's going to marry, it appears that he's not as committed as you thought.
If marriage is what you want, the time has indeed come to move out. It is also time to move on with your life.