Quote:Rising housing costs, a dating scene that feels like a full-time job, and a craving for deep connection are pushing many of us to picture our futures less like a couple’s rom-com, and more like a communal sitcom. To see friends as partners in life — not just in fun, but in responsibility, planning and even legacy. 
“I do see a cultural shift, though it’s still outside the norm,” said Toronto-based relationship coach Victoria Yeung. “Thanks to the internet, we’re starting to hear about more alternative future-planning set-ups, like friends raising a child together, roommates combining income, groups pooling resources to start small communities. As dating and marriage norms shift, more possibilities start to surface.”