[SthrnZeta]

No, the loan will be in his name and we'll both be on title. I'll be paying the mortgage and utilities while he's gone and I believe he's got homeowner's insurance covered through USAA since he already has his car insured through them.

I agree that I would feel better if we were engaged when he left, but at the same time, he's already shelling out quite a bit of money on closing costs, etc. for the house that I'll be living in while he's gone (not to mention it's mostly his furniture in the place) so it seems wrong to say, honey, shell out some more for a ring while you're at it, ya know? I feel like we're already making a huge commitment but I worry too because I've been the girlf to a deployed soldier before and it went very badly so I have some trust issues of my own for sure (not to mention my parents also worry it won't work out and they adore him). I agree with you Amanda that it'll be easier to work at it for real if we're engaged, vs only dating. I'm not sure if I should just wait until after the holidays and give him the time to come up with it on his own and since he's already talking the talk if he'll walk the walk and just do it or if I should just be honest now...?

And BTW, he'll be gone for a whopping 15 months!