This is wonderful. My mother lived apart from my father for about 10 years; it's why they were married for 61 years. As my coauthor and I write in our book, "The New I Do: Reshaping Marriage for Skeptics, Realists and Rebels," you can create or re-create the marriage you want depending on your needs and goals as a couple.

Many people don't understand why some couples choose to live apart -- now you do. Freedom and autonomy and love and commitment. That sounds perfect to me. Congrats on your bold exploration.