Is this love or is this business?

Recently I keep hearing people talking about "so and so's partner" or one may say: "my partner this or my partner that"

Reason is that these people are not married and thus can't call their other half: wife or husband.  And if people choose not to marry, that's their choice.  But I dislike the word usage.  PARTNER sounds to business like.
I prefer "boyfriend or girlfriend".  Yes, I still believe at people's older age they can still call the one they're with their boy/girl friend even if their teenage years have long gone.

But for me the word: PARTNER... yuck! Well this is just my opinion. (My blog, remember?)