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I remember when my boyfriend and I first started dating around five years ago, every conversation felt electric. I almost felt like I was outside of my body, watching us, like in some extremely endearing indie coming of age film, where everyone is so well-spoken and self-reflective. Something about him opened me up and something about me opened him up. We were so giddy around each other. Today, that giddiness has turned into a wonderful comfort. I am by no means bored in my relationship—in fact, our bond strengthens and becomes more impactful on me every day. But when you’ve been together for a long time, eventually, not every conversation is witty or profoundly meaningful. The day-to-day aspects of simply being alive take over. Here is how conversation topics change from year one to year five of a relationship.

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You can be more open about his family

In year one, you wouldn’t speak one word about his family that was anything other than positive, enthusiastic, and celebratory. Now you two know the backstories of each other’s family and have spent enough time with them to be more open in conversations. Your family isn’t perfect. His isn’t perfect. But now his family is yours and visa versa and you love them flaws and all.

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You can talk about the future

You had to be so ginger when you spoke about the future in the beginning. You couldn’t let on that you’d be willing to make accommodations for this person to be a part of your future. At five years in, talk of the future includes the words “We” and “Us.” You workshop a future that makes both of you happy, and you understand you can’t be happy without each other. You admit that to each other.

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You laugh at your low sex drives

Sex just isn’t that high on the priority list any more. You’re past the point of taking it personally or thinking it’s some “sign” that things are on the decline. You’re still very in love, but you don’t mind admitting that you’re not the sex fiends you once were.

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It’s okay to say, “You’re overreacting”

Remember how, in the beginning, if your partner was upset about something, you dropped everything and listened intently? Now, sometimes, you know there are things your partner overreacts to. And when he’s doing it, you don’t drop what you’re doing to give into his drama: you tell him he’s overreacting.

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You go deep about insecurities and fears

You can have the types of conversations you’d have with a therapist, with one another. You really are best friends. You can show each other your ugly sides and be vulnerable. You know what strong forces you both are, so you don’t mind showing your weaknesses, too.

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You’re very open about sex

You’ve straight up had to tell each other to use a stronger soap on your genitals or else you are not going down on one another. You’ve critiqued the flavor of the edible lube he bought. You’ve said out loud, “I’m out of sexy underwear so, just don’t look down.”