My boyfriend [29/M] wants to wait to propose to me [29/F] after 8 years

My boyfriend (29) and I (29) have been together for 8 years. In the past, whenever I would bring up marriage, he would blow off my questions with a joke of something along the lines of "I don't believe in marriage". I finally had a conversation with him last year to help clarify if he really meant this or was truly joking. He said he wants to wait until both of us are our best selves. In his case, this meant more financial stability, which he achieved last year with a raise in salary. I was previously really unhappy with my old job and my unhappiness carried over into our relationship, so he was pushing me to switch jobs. I switched jobs in February, but between the current Covid19 situation and having a new manager with unprofessional behavior and gaslighting tactics, I am again stressed out and unhappy. I also gained about 20 pounds at my old job and am not finding success with losing it with how much overtime I still have to do with my new job. He makes comments about my food consumption and about me needing to exercise more.

---

TLDR: Is 8 years too long? Are we ever going to be our best selves?


Source.