I’ve been with my boyfriend since 2024. Our relationship has to be on the down low / an open secret because dating isn’t permissible among his people. His family says they really like me, but they’d never accept me as his wife since I’m not Arab, maybe as a second wife, but the first wife has to be someone they approve of. I don’t want to be a second wife. I’m with him despite all of this because he treats me great, fucks me good, and gets me (he’s very open-minded and chill, and I feel fully comfortable with him). But I know he won’t go against his family for me because of $$$.
I think there’s is a lot of value in a short term relationship especially if it ends well without lot of resentment or drama. That being said the best short term have a defined end date. For something like this it’s more nebulous communication will be important. At some point both of you will need to find someone that would work long term. You might both agree that you can casually date other people while dating
The younger you are and the newer this relationship the more time you have. If you are young there’s more time in your life to find a different partner and you don’t know what you want and same with him. If you’re relationship is new there is plenty of time for something else to break you up. There are other deal breakers out there