Should we marry to make kin happy?

I am a 43-year old man and have been living with a woman my age for three years. We moved in after our previous relationships failed, and because we had dated for a year before making this decision. We have no plans to marry in the near future because I don’t think either of us has any interest in making that kind of commitment, even though we love each other. The problem is the nature of our relationship sometimes leads to complications with regard to money or how our families and friends treat us. I am worried about whether this will lead to complications in the future. Should we marry?
You should marry if you both want to, not simply to avoid misunderstandings by family and friends. Communication can set a lot of opinions straight if you take the time to have those conversations. Dealing with money may be trickier without the legal status that marriage conveys but speaking to an accountant or lawyer may allow you both to find a solution that works. The important thing is what the two of you want from this relationship and how you want to set expectations, not just for yourselves but for the people in your lives. Base your decision upon how you both feel about the larger picture and talk about what your real reasons for wanting to marry or not marry are. Everything else can be managed with some work.

How can I get my boyfriend to stop being possessive and start treating me as if I have a mind of my own?
You can tell him why his behaviour betrays a lack of trust as well as disrespect and add that these aren’t signs of a healthy relationship. Being possessive implies that one looks at one’s partner as a possession rather an individual, which is something that should be called out as often as possible.