Navy girlfriend with no intention of becoming a Navy wife - has anyone done it?

[rmb]

Not saying that I never want to marry him, just that it probably can't happen while he's in the Navy.

My boyfriend is leaving for BC a week from tomorrow, and I have been an absolute emotional wreck about it, though I keep telling myself that it really won't be as awful as I'm imagining. Anyway, as it's been getting closer, I find myself stressing out even more about what happens *afterward*. See, it just seems like all the women on this site are either married already or intend to be soon, and can (for the most part) follow their sailors wherever they're ordered. I, however, am still in college and probably will be until about the time he's discharged, which means that I'm pretty much tied to North Carolina while he could be stationed anywhere. I'd be willing to try and transfer near him, but then what happens when he gets different orders? I guess I'm just trying to figure out how we're going to manage when we have no idea how often we might get to see each other...

[sailorwifenmom]

Ugh - sorry - that whole big long ramble, and I don't think I really said the thing I started out to say (lol, I told you I'm pretty tired) -

It's not "undoable" to be separated from each other and wait 6 months or a year and decide that you're going to get married.  You're going to have a lot of time you're apart whether  you're married or not... I just don't encourage trying to do it for an entire enlistment, when you're talking 4 - 6 years (my husband told me they stopped doing 2 yr enlistments), especially without a formal commitment to each other, honestly, that's a different matter.... 

[heathee12]

Thanks for taking the time to respond.  You have alot of great advice.  He actually just called me so that was the first time we have talked since he got to BC.  I think that I am just trying to figure out what I want (which is him, but I wonder how totally impractical it is to want to move and when and under what circumstances).  I don't want to over think anything now because I know that this is just the beginning, but I hear what you are saying about getting married.  The time he has been gone has made me more sure about my feelings - lol i just wish he could pick where he goes;) - which i know isn't really an option.  I am an artist (and I work as a designer) so my work is just who I am (and I guess I can do it anywhere where there is an arts-community.  I want to be supportive of his goals, because I have already had the opportunity to pursue my dreams - I do it everyday.  What it comes down to is I want to have a life with him and am scared about how uncertain this adventure is (in terms of place).