Moving in with a romantic partner is not only an important relationship decision in and of itself, but it comes with it a series of exhausting micro-decisions. How much rent or mortgage can you both afford, and how should you divvy it up? Whose furniture should you bring, and whose furniture gets left behind? Do you want the two-bedroom without a dishwasher, or the one-bedroom that’s near a grocery store? And, one of the most important choices: where’s the best place to live geographically?
Common sense says that you should get a place that is in between your two places of work, to minimize your commute time. But, according to recent research on romantic relationships, you may want to choose a place that allows you to both travel to work in the same direction instead.
Why does travelling in the same geographic direction, as opposed to travelling in opposite directions, contribute to relationship quality? The researchers argue that it’s because travelling in the same direction makes romantic partners feel like they are pursuing common goals.
Read more: Samantha Joel, Psychology Today