In a relationship/married/co-habiting/partnered?

[Darren Jeffrey]

Been with my girlfriend 5 years. Get married on the 18th of May next year :-)

 

[ianrauk]

Make the most oif it while it lasts. I know plenty of people who were in a semmingly blissful contented relationships even after 20 or 30 years only for their partners to walk off without explanation leaving the other broken hearted and having to pick up the pieces.

Hello Mr Jolly Outlook....

 

[Dayvo]

Hello Mr Jolly Outlook....

Sorry, but that made me laugh, that did. I had the same thoughts...

 

[Maz]

I am happily married and I have 3 kids who are 16, 13 and 6. They are a handful at times, but I love them to bits. The eldest thinks it's uncool to go cycling, but the other 2 still go on short bike rides with me.

 

[Toshiba Boy]

Was married for 22 years, drifted apart and split up 4 years ago, now divorced. 24 year old son, who I am very close to.

Now with my new partner, for the last 3 years, got engaged in New York last November, getting married next year. Life does move on, and can honestly say I am the happiest I have ever been in my adult life. My partner is a wonderful lady, gorgeous (why is she with me?), oh, ... and a chef (and a bloody good one too!). We have now moved into our recently renovated home together, overlooking the sea, with Exmoor behind us, absolutley fantastic. She has two sons, one 19 presently living in Sydney, and one coming up 17 who lives with us and is a great kid young man.

 

[Night Train]

Make the most oif it while it lasts. I know plenty of people who were in a semmingly blissful contented relationships even after 20 or 30 years only for their partners to walk off without explanation leaving the other broken hearted and having to pick up the pieces.

That is always a possibility. I caught my ex wife having an affair. When it was out in the open she just brought men home openly until we divorced and she left!


I think the solution lies in communication. I work on the basis of talking, even if it is about bad stuff as that is often more important.

I have always maintained that if either of us felt unhappy then we should say so. That opens the option for resolving any developing problems, or planning an 'exit strategy' that is mutually agreeable if it is not recoverable.

 

[dan_bo]

Been married 12 months 15 days and 22 hours. or so.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Been with Mrs Culture for 18 years (wow, I just worked that out!) and have been married for (hang on *thinks*) possibly 6 years? We have a one year old daughter, who is as hilarious as she is destructive, and sometimes the two things combine.

 

[Bromptonaut]

Been with 'Mrs B' since 1983. Never married but have two offspring younger of whom was 18 last Saturday. He's in sxoth form and his older sister is in second year at Uni.

We niggle each other continuously but that's just part of being together.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I notice a lot of us have been in long-term relationships but aren't married or left it a long time to get married. We tied the knot to simplify utility bills, and to have a bit of a laugh.

 

[fimm]

Was single until I was in my mid 30s and then met my boyfriend and we've been together for just over 5 years.

 

[Trickedem]

I count my blessings every day. Happly married for 32 years. After meeting when I was 18 and she was 17, we were married just over a year later. Life has worked out well and we are very proud of our 5 sons, aged between 30 and 16. I think the secret of our success is mainly my wife's loving nature, hard work and tolerance.

 

[srw]

mainly

intend that to continue

 

[rich p]

I was married once. Unfortunately she felt the marriage vows only applied to my side of the commitment so we eventually parted company.

I am now with Arch. Nearly 2 years together, formally, but know each other for longer. Met on a cycling forum due to a mutual interest in steam engines and other mechanical stuff.
We have plans for a wedding. Having done it before I am not overly bothered about wedding stuff but I do still feel that marriage (in some form, not necessarily legal or religious) is an important thing for me as a confirmation of our commitment to each other.

Arch enjoys the same sorts of madcap stuff that I do, we both enjoy cycling but don't see it as a religion. We have similar views to spending and earning, holidays, lifestyles, fashions, luxuries, food, family, etc. I think we 'fall out' on dogs, Arch likes something smaller with a rough coat, I prefer larger dogs with a smooth coat.
Overall we compliment each other.

I only ever intended to be married once (more).

...and complement each other too?

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I count my blessings every day. Happly married for 32 years. After meeting when I was 18 and she was 17, we were married just over a year later. Life has worked out well and we are very proud of our 5 sons, aged between 30 and 16. I think the secret of our success is mainly my wife's loving nature, hard work and tolerance.

My wife and I met when we had just turned 19, and just like you I put the continuing (and improving) happiness down to her excellence and tolerance!