contradiction

I have an interesting thought/question/conundrum (boy I like that word this week)...

I hate the terms boyfriend/girlfriend. I think they suck. I think they sound very immature and silly. But the alternatives suck too. What alternatives do you guys use/can think of? Here are mine:

- "my girl/guy": a little better, but sounds a bit silly in the possessive sorta way.
- "old lady/man": this is just silly. Period. Most people that say this are not old. I don't get it.
- "fiance/fiancee": that's out - it implies engagement. Good for a limited time only, like a 2 for 1 coupon.
- "husband/wife": that's out too - it implies marriage, whether traditional or untraditional (handfasting, common law). This is only good when you are a certain thing, like a senior citizen discount at the buffet.
- "significant other": too long to use in normal conversation. Also sounds pretty darn cold to me.
- "seeing each other/dating": implies that things are not very serious at all.
- "fuckbuddy/friend with benefits": extremely not serious (but lots of fun, let me tell ya).

I have no more. I need a good one for people that are together in a serious relationship where there is no seeing of other people, but no talk of public commitment. Hmmm....

The other day I was talking to my sister about doing housework, and I referred to myself as a "house-chick-who-lives-with-him-who-has-no-gainful-employment" aka a "housewife that didn't get the rock outta the deal". That's a little long though.

I really can't think of any others.