<human>: Can you give me a shortened version of the text?

My boyfriend and I met when I was seventeen and have been through a lot together, including a few years of long distance dating when I went to college. We now live together since two years and have two cats together. He is amazing - we communicate very well and can talk about anything, we are very compatible (same views on important issues), he cooks dinner and we share the household chores, etc. My family loves him and I get along well with his family. We are a little at different points in our lives with me focused on working and him working on his bachelor's degree, but other than that we are pretty similar.

The thing is, for awhile now I have felt very tied down and almost claustrophobic in the relationship. To the point where my usually happy self feels very irritable around him. Part of me DOES want to get engaged and get a house, but a larger part of me would rather all that stuff wait. I am very independent and to be honest I want to live on my own at some point, as well as feel free to move around without worrying about how he would come along too. I also have been with him since I was so young and want to be single for awhile and be able to date around and not be serious.

I told him about this, and he did understand my feelings but does not feel the same. He doesn't want to get married anytime soon but he also has no interest in dating others. I am completely torn because I do love him and don't want to break up but the other part of me does want to be single and more independent.
<bot>: I love my boyfriend of seven years but feel tied down. Not sure if I should suck it up and stay with him or grow up on my own and be single for awhile.