Moving in together (I'm 42 and never lived with a boyfriend) - please share some positive experiences!

[user2348]

Hello,
My boyfriend and I have been together for two years and live close to each other, locked down together at my house, and are now talking about moving in together. At the moment he spends a few nights at his each week, but otherwise stays at mine.
I am getting increasingly anxious about the moving in - not because we don't have a good relationship, and not because I don't love him, but because of what other people say!
I have never lived with a boyfriend full-time before and properly moved in, which at 42, is maybe odd, but I've lived on my own mainly since age 27. So I'm nervous as it is and it's a bit scary because it's a big thing for me...
Anyway, other people say things like:
'relationships are best when you live apart'
'i'd never live with a man again - it's a myth that it's better to live as a couple than alone!'
'Why would you change things? You have the perfect set-up with a few nights apart'
'The sex and everything just dies when you live together'
So...these are the things i've heard, and few positive stories to be honest. Maybe it's my age because there are a lot of break ups and divorces! But few have seemed to say it's a lovely experience!
I'm keen to hear a balanced view as I am nervous after living alone for decades. Thank you!

Yes he will pay a maintenance contribution, we’ve discussed that.

I had been single all my life, met my now DH at 38. We used to just see each other at weekends whilst I stayed back at my parents during the week. I am/was very used to my own space

Long story short after two years we ended up buying a house together several hundred miles away so I went from being in my parents house one day, to living with him full time, miles away, the next. Bit of a shock to the system and it took a lot of adjusting on both our parts. We got married 18 months ago and are very happy.

We muddle along with sharing jobs around the house and making dinner etc but I do have to nag him to do stuff on occasion. I'm still a lover of my own space which he doesn't really understand but I take myself away to the bedroom around 9ish to get an hour or so of peace before bed, works for us.

I get where you’re coming from. I moved in with a boyfriend for the first time aged 41, 4 years ago, we’re now married and have bought a place together. I owned two properties of my own at the time that I was renting out, I paid him rent and bills (but got quite a good deal). I didn’t have commitment issues but like OP life handy quite worked out in the way you are told it will and I’d been unlucky.
We’d been together 2.5 years when I moved in, it felt like the natural next step. I didn’t worry though I’d had years on my own and managing my own place as I wanted to share my life with him, I was sure of that and wasn’t doing it because I thought I should be living with someone/in a relationship/scared to be alone. It had to be someone worth compromising the good bits of being single and living alone for. We have our moments of course but never regretted it ever. When you know you know especially by this age! No kids, again doesn’t always work out like everyone assumes it will. But we’re happy.
Just make sure you’re not disadvantaged financially or in terms of housework etc (though in reality I think most women end up doing at least a bit more unless they enjoy nagging). And enjoy! You’ve known another kind of life and that’s a massive advantage in terms of perspective.

Sorry for the double post!