Will boys always be boys?

Here’s the deal: My boyfriend (32) and I have been going out for about a year, and we’ve been living together for two months. However, I think that he acts very childishly. He jokes about everything, and I mean everything, even when it’s not appropriate to do so. I am not getting the emotional support that I need from him.

On top of that, he always wants to hang out with his friends, which I am rarely invited in on because it’s “guy time.’’ They all go to the same gym Monday through Wednesday (7-10 p.m.), and then almost every weekend (Thursday through Saturday) they drink beer and hang out at bars/clubs. And let’s not forget that Sunday is football all day.

I noticed this behavior before, but it wasn’t so bothersome because we weren’t living together. It’s not like I’m looking to get married anytime soon, but I am ambitious and I have goals that I would like to reach, some major ones before 30, and I would like a guy who’s on the same page - not one who is 32 and trying to relive his college partying days.

We’ve talked about this, and he says that this has been - and will continue to be - his personality.

However, this Love Letter is about men in general and not my boyfriend in particular. While I know that he and I will probably not make it down “Life Street’’ hand-in-hand, when we finally do move on (I assume when the lease is up), I want to know if what’s in store for me is an even older version of the same nonsense.

My questions are: Do men ever grow up? Do men always remain boys and act like Ray Romano? Because if so, I’d rather be single forever than have to deal with a man who acts like a child.

32 GOING ON 21, ALLSTON

A. You’re well aware that you’re dating a guy in his 30s who spends a strange amount of time at the gym. But you’re already planning to break up with him, so we don’t have to deal with that issue. (Although - do you have to wait until the lease is up?)

You’re asking me if men grow up. Sure they do. So do women. But don’t confuse interests with maturity. If you want a man who shares your interests - someone who is less interested in beer and the gym - that’s what you should be looking for. Your guy knows who he is and what he’s capable of. He has been clear about it. That actually takes some maturity.

My point is, just because someone is out until 2 a.m. every night doesn’t make him immature. Likewise, a guy who behaves like a grown-up isn’t necessarily a grown-up on the inside.

You’re a good example of that. You like to do grown-up things, but you also know that you still have a lot of growing up to do. MEREDITH

Some men do grow up, and some spend the rest of their lives trying to relive their teens and early 20s. Kind of like some women. Sorry, ladies, this is not an issue specific to men. I’ve had the same problem with many of the women I’ve dated. BIZONA

You don’t love your boyfriend, don’t share his interests, don’t respect him, but decided to play house together anyway and now are waiting to break up until some random point in the future. And on top of that you whine, “Do men ever grow up?’’ as if your one experience with this one man is somehow supposed to represent all men everywhere. I would seriously suggest you consider that you may not be defining maturity correctly - because you could really use some more of it. JJLEN

There is a saying in Spanish: Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres (Tell me with whom you walk and I will tell you who you are). CRAZY-LAZY-BEAR

Edited and reprinted from www.boston.com/loveletters. Meredith Goldstein can be reached at mgoldstein@globe.com. She chats online today at 1 p.m.