...marriage?

It was my birthday a couple of weeks back and I got an email from a friend asking whether my guy took the opportunity to propose. The issue of why proposals of marriage should happen on either birthdays, anniversaries or bank holidays set aside, I wrote back that no, he did not, and that coming to think of it: I didn't think my guy's the kind of guy who would propose anyway.
As I wrote that down taking in how right and true that statement felt, I couldn't help but thinking: what if he asked - would I even say yes?
We've been together a year next month, however, we fast-tracked the whole thing. For example, other couples I know waited a couple of years before moving in together, we did that after four months. But does that mean our "courting" period should be shorter too? There's supposed to be a timetable for this sort of thing, right? Well, ours is nonexistent but I still don't know if this means we'll get married some day.
Another point I made in my head was the question why it's always the woman (i.e., me) driving herself round the bend trying to analyse feelings and wondering about the "what ifs" of life... it seems things started with that girl taking a bite of that fruit after she was told she shouldn't and things haven't changed since. So, out of innate curiosity, I actually talked to my guy about it. Yes, radical concept, but I can only recommend it. He said that indeed he wasn't the type to propose, if he wanted to talk about getting married he'd come and talk to me about it, so that was that. Reassuring to know I was right about my assessment of his character in this respect, and I gotta say, it made me love him a bit more. Plus I'd hate the surprise of having a question popped that I don't know the answer to.
I'm not sure I agree with the whole "marriage is just a bit of paper" argument, but granted, when he asked me what difference a marriage certificate meant to me, I answered: more hassle and paperwork if we break up. Wow, what a bitchy thing to say, I'm sure he'll never even talk to me about it now... and kinda proving his point about the paper-bit, too!
I guess we'll just have to see where life takes us, who knows, I might figure out an answer if he discovers a way to ask a question.