I moved in with my partner's family to be closer to work. Our arrangement has worked out well, even though my job didn't.

• I moved in with my long-distance partner's family to be closer to a job and save some money.
• A lot of 26-year-olds might not see the appeal of this situation, but I was grateful for the option.
• I developed a great relationship with her family, who became a support system after I got laid off.

Last year, I moved from Michigan to Connecticut to live with my partner — and her parents.

For most of our relationship, my partner and I had lived in different places. We met in 2022 during grad school, began dating in the spring of 2023, and went long-distance when she moved back home to the East Coast later that fall.

We'd take turns visiting each other for a few days at a time, until we were finally given the opportunity to live in the same time zone. I accepted a job in New York in early 2025, without living in or near the city, and my girlfriend's parents made it possible.

They offered me a place to stay where I could commute into the city for work while I started my new job, adjusted to the distance from my own relatives, and most importantly, saved some money.

This wasn't how my partner and I had pictured moving in together, but we liked the idea of living in the same place. Being on the East Coast would also mean I'd get to spend more time with her extended family, too.

Most 26-year-olds might not see the appeal of the situation, but for me, it was the only way.

My partner's parents made it possible for me to accept a job

There's an unspoken element of unemployment that we don't really talk about: the cost of accepting a job. I was excited to finally have a job offer, but at first, I wasn't sure that I'd be able to take it.

The role required me to relocate to one of the most expensive cities in the country, and after eight months without a full-time job — I'd just been doing freelance work and some side jobs — I couldn't realistically sign a lease.

I needed to work a bit to save up for an apartment, but I also needed a place to stay to work. It was a Catch-22.

Add up additional moving costs, like packing supplies, a van or truck, and gas, and I was in a sticky situation.

When my girlfriend's parents offered me a free place to stay indefinitely while I figured things out, it felt like things were falling into place.

Their kindness showed me I was in the right place

I have a hard time accepting help and not being in control. I like having my own space, and I was worried that if I moved into my partner's childhood home, I'd feel like I was invading someone else's domain or overstaying my welcome.

That said, I knew if I didn't move in with them, I wouldn't be able to take the job.

After many conversations with my girlfriend about our expected timeline and the reality of living in someone else's space, I packed up two suitcases and booked a one-way flight to Connecticut.

Upon arriving, I was greeted with a cleared-out closet and three empty dressers. My girlfriend, her parents, and her sister went through their vacant bedroom and emptied it of old clothes and other items so I could put my things away and feel at home, since my partner's closet and dresser were overflowing with her own things.

I had my own desk, vanity, and space in the fridge and cabinets for food.

I moved here to be closer to my job, but instead, I got closer to my partner's family

By living in Connecticut, I've been able to spend more time with my formerly long-distance partner and her family than I ever have. I've been included in pool parties, family dinners, and holiday celebrations that I likely would not have been otherwise, just because of distance.

When I was laid off from my job only six months after I moved to the East Coast, they didn't request a plan from me; they just continued to provide a safe space and feed me home-cooked meals.

Looking back, I'm so glad I didn't move to New York City. Sure, it would've felt sour to be stuck in a lease without a job, but more than that, I would've missed out on late-night games of dominoes, happy hours on the patio, and our trivia team wins.

If you told me even a year ago that I'd be living in suburban Connecticut with my partner's family, I would've been shocked. It's what has worked best for us, though, and I wouldn't change it for anything.