Zebedee -
(said very emphatically) regarding your #1 above - don't fall into that trap. I thought the same exact thing, but got married thinking, "Maybe I'll grow into the relationship." After nine years of fights, two jail terms, a 4 year stretch of unemployment, and living in the streets for 5 years, I finally realized that marriage isn't a good thing for someone who's not ready for it.

You need to know you are ready to commit, before you do. Don't do it anyway thinking you may grow into it. There are things worse than being lonely.