My boyfriend (26M) and I (26F) have been dating for about six months. A couple of months ago, I got a job in NYC, while he’s been unemployed for about seven months.

I commute into the city every day, and while the train ride itself isn’t awful, the time, cost, and overall exhaustion are really starting to wear on me. Living in the city would make my life significantly easier. My lease ends in a couple months, and one of my best friends from home (we’ve been close for 15 years) has also been planning to move to NYC, so we decided to get a place together. She’s single, social, and enjoys going out, which feels pretty normal for people in their mid-to-late 20s.

My boyfriend keeps saying that since we’re “almost 30,” we should be settling down and be done with going out. He’s also told me that if I keep going out, I’ll “never find my husband.” For context, I have a close group of girlfriends and always have. I used to go out more, but now it’s usually just drinks once or twice a week – nothing extreme.

I’m really conflicted. If I stay where I am, it’s not like my boyfriend and I would be moving in together anyway. He lives with his parents and doesn’t currently have the money to get his own place. Staying would basically just mean we don’t break up.

If I move to the city, he insists that I’ll be out until 4 a.m. every night partying and hanging out with guys because of my roommate, even though I’ve repeatedly said that’s not who I am and not what I want. He doesn’t believe me and has openly said he doesn’t trust me..even though I’ve never cheated on him nor have come close to doing so. I’ve even offered for him to move with me and continue applying for jobs in NYC, but he said no because he doesn’t want to live there.

I feel really stuck and unsure how to handle this situation. I genuinely do love him, but I also feel as though this is the only time in my life where I could move to the city as I’m not tied down to anything except for him. Any advice, perspectives, or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for reading.

TL;DR: I work in NYC and want to move there with my longtime best friend when my lease ends. My unemployed boyfriend of six months says moving will turn me into a party girl, doesn’t trust me, and believes we’re too old to go out at all. He refuses to move with me. I’m torn between doing what makes sense for my life and preserving the relationship.