I am upper-middle class: big house, go skiing abroad every year, live in the most expensive place in the country. My boyfriend grew up in the ghetto.

It's interesting, sometimes. A lot more life has happened to him. I had a bad birthday party once when I was seven, where the worst thing that happened was that I fell off the bouncy castle. When he was seven his best friend got shot and died in his arms, and that boy's family shoveled all the blame and guilt of this random shooting onto him.

Heh, little differences, right? His family were poor and donated what little money they had to the church. He'd never approach the police willingly, because it's more dangerous to interact with them than to not.

When the date was approaching July the fourth I heard all the bangs and opened the curtains to try and watch the fireworks - he freaked out about drawing attention to myself, and pulled me away from the window - his first reaction to the noise was to assume it was gunshots. The thing that gets me about that was that he'd heard the noise, was assuming it was nearby gunfire, and only did something or commented on it when he thought that I was in danger. Like he was so used to ignoring it, that it practically didn't register.

He carries a knife to work; I leave my valuables on my desk. He wouldn't hesitate to knock someone out if need be; I've never had someone threaten me. I used to worry a lot about him, but now I don't bother - otherwise I'd never stop worrying.

It often feels like he lives in a very different world to me - but I learn a lot from him. Everything new I learn is very eye-opening.

Ultimately, the question is does it affect our relationship? The answer is... nah. We're quite similar people in most ways. Both usually very frugal, both well read. There isn't much we clash on.

(He's much cuter than me, though. He's the best!)