The best friends moved in together after they both divorced and are dating new people, but insist they are still each other’s “first priority”.
Marissa Baker, 32, and her best friend Patty Kulak, 29, moved in together shortly after they both split from their partners in 2021.
Marissa has been with her boyfriend for about a year and says everything they do is driven by Patty first.
Patty – who is casually dating at the moment – brings up potential dates she and Marissa would go on as they “came as a package deal”, but only getting the benefit of one of them.
The pair moved together to Naples, Florida, US, in May 2021, as it made financial sense, and they go on dating dates, exercise, do housework together and “co-parent” their shared pets – three dogs, two cats and a 150-pound turtle.
Marissa, a local government regional manager, said: “We don’t really have that division or those issues and strife.
“There was never any time for us to be sick of each other.
“I’ve been with my boyfriend for a little over a year now and he lives in Michigan.
“Everything we plan and do goes through Patty’s filter.
“We’ve shared groups, calendars and notes to make sure no one gets left out.
“I think it went really well.”
Patty, an estate planner, said: “Everything is still the same, we are each other’s first priority as a partner.
“We are both in an active relationship, but each other comes first.
“This is not a hidden fact and I bring it up very quickly.
“People see her as my partner and best friend.
“I tell potential partners, not only does Marissa live with me, but her opinion is more likely than yours.”
The friends met on January 1, 2021, at Marissa’s birthday party, and when Patty split in January 2021, she was supported by Marissa – who split from her husband in May 2021.
In May 2021, the bachelors decided to move together to Naples, Florida, USA.
They say their condition now allows them to have a proper support system.
Patty said, “I think for me, having Marissa as a support system here is important because I don’t have any family here — so I have her family.”
Marissa added: “What we have is very good.
“We came from unhealthy relationships, so we’re really good partners in that way.
“When you have something that’s really good, you want to keep it.”
When it comes to Patty’s relationship, she tells her partners that they will always “cook for three.”
She said: “I want partners to be relatable to Marissa.
“If we are cooking, we will make three dishes.
“I always say ‘you’re dating both of us, but you’re only taking advantage of me.’
“I went to a hockey meet as well a few weeks ago and asked Marissa to come.
“Someone I met recently was a friend of Marisa’s boyfriend, so he gets the idea.
“It’s like meeting family — knowing that Marissa can see how I interact with someone or get an idea of what they’re like.”
Both women have said they have no plans to move a partner in with them and plan to live together for the foreseeable future.
Marissa said: “Best case scenario if I had my way I would be able to buy the house next door and live in the best of both worlds.
“If we don’t live together, how can we keep each other close?
“I don’t see the difference – if my relationship works out, which I think it will, but it would take at least two years before it ever went away.”
Patty added: “I don’t think we would want to transfer anyone else.
“We’ve never fought and if anything we joke about how different we are – there’s a dynamic we don’t want to break.
“But I also don’t think there’s any fear if Marissa would want to leave to be with her partner.
“I don’t think our relationship would change in supporting each other.”
The pair – who moved in together just months after meeting – say they didn’t feel any pressure to move so quickly.
Patty said: “I have always followed and supported Marissa as she worked with my ex-husband.
“I asked her to be my friend after the divorce and now she is my best friend.”
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