I’ve been with my boyfriend for about 7 years, and the term I use for him, as you can tell, is boyfriend. We haven’t discussed marriage or anything more legal quite yet but do often talk as if we’ll be together for good, and that’s how I feel, but I’m not sure either of us are the marrying type. Regardless, I’m starting to feel ever so slightly weird about the term boyfriend in the context of how long we’ve been together, but the only obvious alternative is “partner” which I don’t mind ordinarily but kind of hate for myself. Having just turned 40, I also feel like referencing my “boyfriend,” esp in professional circles, somehow feels a bit youthful/immature (which might also subconsciously be why I like it).

Any thoughts on labels (and I know, love has no labels ;) in terms of relationship length, age and/or otherwise?