Have an aunt who has only ever lived with women. I was always told it was her roommate. Everyone refers to her as a roommate. They BOUGHT THE HOUSE TOGETHER. Have dogs together. Raise the other ones kids together.
When I was like 17, and openly gay, I straight up asked my grandmother if her sister was a lesbian. She said no they're just roommates and got super specific about it. I asked my aunt a couple weeks later when I saw her and she went "Well, yeah. Do I not wear enough flannel?"
To be fair, me and my best friend originally bought this house together.
He's gay, I'm not.
Special circumstances though; my dad owned it, and fucked up, so we bought it to both help him and keep the house in the family.
And, we shared a single room for half the time he lived here because it was the family home, and my mom and sister still lived here.
We also shared rooms when we lived elsewhere, because single rooms were cheaper to rent, and in one case we preferred using the second room for a combo mini library/storage space.
A lot of people thought we were a couple. And, I guess, it could be argued that we were if you stretch the meaning far enough.
Non-Romantic domestic partnerships are awesome!
I wish I lived in a culture where this was more normalized. I guess it's a little more common among younger women, but fairly rare among men.
Glad you've got to have this experience with your family (which I'd argue you friend is part of).
He's definitely family :) I don't throw the term brother around lightly, but he's more than worthy of that title
I (40m) lived with my (39F) lesbian step sister for a few years.
It was like a proper relationship without any of the jealousy and clingy ownership that inevitably comes from both sides, plus if one of you brings home a catch you can genuinely give the other a high five.
One of the most functional relationships I have ever had.