We had been together for about 10 months when we decided we both wanted to go on with our lives, and start studying again. We applied to several universities and colleges, and both got admitted to study at the University in Stockholm. So we then decided to move in together, and on January 17th 1992 Pierre and I moved to our first apartment in Stockholm, and he began taking Archaeology courses, and I studied Behavioral Science. 6 months later we bought a kitten, our cool, adorable Cleo.

After being together for 5 years, Pierre and I got engaged.

We had been living in Stockholm for 5,5 years when Pierre got an opportunity to begin working at the museum in Västervik, so in May 1997 he moved back to Västervik, and I stayed in Stockholm for another 3 months to finish what I was doing, and then moved here too. We live in a beautiful 2-room apartment in an old wooden house near the sea. Pierre is still working for the museum, but with somewhat different arrangements than in the beginning, and I am studying to become a chef. (I’ve walked down several roads towards different professions, (for instance Psychologist, consultant in behavioral science, teacher) but so far changed my mind and tried something else after a while)

My family is spread all over the country, more or less, but both of Pierre’s parents and his younger sister live here, as well as several of his old friends. I have some old friends from school who’ve been faithful to their home town, and I have also gotten to know a bunch of interesting and really nice new friends here over the time. 

Pierre and I don’t really have any mutual hobbies, but we both enjoy spending time together, just hanging out at home. In the same time we’re not as dependent of each other as some couples tend to get. We’re both individuals living in a strong, healthy relationship. We both feel have our freedom to spend time on our own, or in the company of others without the other one getting jealous or annoyed. We’ve also been spending longer periods away from each other at several occasions throughout the years, mostly due to Pierre’s work. 

We’re both alike, but still very different as persons. I guess it’s the mixture that makes our relationship worthwhile. Pierre is the calm, thoughtful, realistic and down-to-earth one, while I’m more of an impatient, spontaneous, emotional person. Pierre loves to debate; he can talk about almost anything for ages, and always has an opinion about everything. -Anything but his own feelings and our relationship, which annoys me a lot, since I just looove to talk about such things. I can analyze things down to the tiniest components, and my brain is constantly processing plans, reactions, interactions and other issues. How, when, why, what… etc.
This combination of personalities of course makes our life together pretty complicated at times, and sets us up with various disagreements and misunderstandings. But I have a feeling this is good and dynamic for us, and knowing we’ve been through things and still managed them, just strengthens what we have.
Our love is so strong we totally rely on each other, and know that nothing can get between us. Not time, not distance, and no other person. So we certainly haven’t been together for 8,5 years without darn good reasons! ;o)

At the time being, we both like it here in Västervik, but are still considering moving elsewhere in the future, since Västervik is such a small place to pursue any careers in. We’ll just have to wait and see what future might bring us…