Their marriage idea: Side-by-side condos

DEAR AMY: My boyfriend and I have been dating for almost five years. We are middle age, well educated and financially secure. We are deeply in love and completely committed to each other. Between us, we have four children from previous marriages. His two are out of the house and my two are teenagers. He rents an apartment, and I own my own condo. We would like to get married but have put off getting engaged because we are both fiercely independent. We enjoy spending time with each other, but each of us has lived on his/her own for several years now, and the thought of trying to mesh our daily routines is hard to swallow. I don't want to deal with his hair in the sink, snoring that can wake the dead and dirty dishes left on the coffee table. He doesn't want to deal with five different types of shampoo in the shower, feminine decor and the loud music of my teens. Another condo has become available for purchase right next door to mine. If he bought it, we could get married and then be free to spend as much (or as little) time together as we see fit. My boyfriend and I love this idea! Those closest to us think this is a great idea for us, but there has also been some skepticism to this rather "modern marriage." Is this plan truly crazy or truly brilliant?Ms. Independent

DEAR INDEPENDENT: For those of us who have occasionally fantasized about moving into the garden shed, if you two went ahead with this living arrangement, you'd be living the dream.

I know two married couples that have lived in neighboring apartments for at least a portion of their marriage, and both said they loved it.

You should talk about the living space and domestic activities and duties you will share.

You also should meet with a financial counselor before marriage to discuss how your finances would be handled.