If you're going to do it right -- you should make up a long range plan and begin preparing yourselves for the roles you'll have to play for 20 years of your life. You'll be 55 when you can once again have a house to yourself.
One of you will need to be the
#1 parent, staying at home the most, caring for children and all that goes with it.
My Man and I are committed to having children in 6-8 years and we started growing into our roles as future parents 3 years ago when we talked about the question above. In a few days he'll have his PhD in psychology and will be making way more than I ever could after I get a degree in geology/mining. The choice was obvious -- I was the one who would have to alter my career plans and I'm doing it as I finish school. It also is a plus for me that I've been changing diapers and caring for nephews and nieces since I was 13 and loved doing it. I'll be able to make an income from home running a bed and breakfast and doing other things that are flexible and less demanding of my time than a conventional job.
The reason we'll be waiting an additional 6-8 years is to build up savings for the future and to be sure -- after we marry in 7 months that there's no possibility of us breaking up. We've even talked about and agreed on how we'll handle things IF our marriage goes bad and we do break up.
Once kids come into the equation nothing in your life will be about "you" for 20 years. Get ready. make a plan.
We even bought a house across the street from a school they kids will go to for 13 years.
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as for Borg's comment about getting a cat....
get two...and a couple of dogs as well... make sure you get dogs that need and demand walks and exercise and demand attention around the clock.
And get on good terms with people with babies so you can learn the actual care of them.