Let me preface this by saying I have yet to do any of these things. Well, what I mean is, I'm 26, recently engaged, and in the process of finding a place in New York so that I can relocate there from Washington State.

This is the first time I've ever felt like a full-fledged adult.

It's weird though - objectively, I would appear to be a bit more mature than most of my friends in the sense that my fiance and I have our own place (I've actually been on my own since 19), I have a bit-more of an established career (been working since 16) so I would've thought this whole "grown up feeling" would have occurred much sooner.

That whole maturity thing isn't a sleight against any of my friends, I actually think it has to do with the fact I didn't get the "typical" college experience. They went across the state for four years and then came back and got a job, whereas I've just been working this entire time (though I have been going to school online for the past few years, got my associate's in December).

Anyway, this adult feeling - I thought I would've gotten it at 18, 21, or 25, or when I got promotions or even a couple of years ago, when I stood up for myself against falsified policies and harassment I was facing. But for me, adulthood waited patiently and I'm glad it did.

I'm very excited about all of this.

So my boyfriend and I have been together going on 5 years. We've known each other for 10. He's my best friend, incredibly supportive, and all in all just a fantastic person to be around and have in my life.

Let me just reiterate how incredibly supportive this guy is, and always has been. When I got the offer to relocate, I sent him a text to which he replied with something along the lines of "Wow, that's awesome." Unfortunately, I was unable to call him until I got to the airport (I was in New York at the time), at which point, 5 minutes into the conversation we convinced each other that this was definitely a thing to consider.

That night, as we were driving to see our friends, we decided it was a thing we needed to do.

The next day, we realized getting married made more sense than ever (yes, we had discussed this previously, many times).

And the very next day, he proposed.

And now, I'm planning a wedding for two and a half months away (my grandmother, who I am extremely close with, will be visiting), and a cross country move 3-3.5 months away (I would prefer to be there before intense winter weather). Outside looking in, this all probably seems very rushed, and if I was anyone but myself right now I would agree wholeheartedly. However, despite everything, all of this somehow feels right.

This notion of pursuing the opportunity to establish a life with the person I care most about, thousands of miles away from this county where we both attended middle school is not only refreshing, but also reassuring. I look forward to what this next chapter has to offer.