Can Long-Term Marriage Retain Its Spark?

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The discussion centers around the complexities of marriage and long-term relationships, highlighting the varied experiences individuals have. Many participants emphasize that a successful marriage is akin to a partnership with mutual support, where both individuals work together for shared goals. While some describe their marriages as blissful, others acknowledge that challenges are inevitable and require hard work and compromise. The importance of compatibility is stressed, with several contributors arguing that knowing a partner well before marriage is crucial to avoid future conflicts. The conversation also touches on the notion that marriage should not be seen solely as a legal contract but as a deep emotional commitment. Participants reflect on their family examples, illustrating both enduring love and the difficulties that can arise in relationships. Ultimately, the discussion underscores that while marriage can be rewarding, it demands effort, adaptability, and a willingness to grow together.
  • #31
fruitengine_han said:
I don't know know... Actually, I don't believe in the idea of two people adjoining themselves together for reasons like they signed a special agreement written in paper... Commitment should start inside their heart and not by signing any written documents...
Certainly commitment starts within the heart. If there is not commitment, there is no need to sign a piece of paper. That would be dishonest.

The marriage license represent a formal and legally binding contract. There are penalties and legal ramifications in order to break that contract - i.e. divorce.

Also consider -

https://www.physicsforums.com/blogs/astronuc-15685/getting-married-then-consider-811/
 
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  • #32
rewebster said:
I see him --right there----he's still in the picture

OMG... Har har har...

You know what i meant...
 
  • #33
Evo said:
If you are married to the wrong person, every day can be hell.

Isn't that the truth!
 
  • #34
Astronuc said:
Also consider -

https://www.physicsforums.com/blogs/astronuc-15685/getting-married-then-consider-811/
Good advice. Also, don't do like we did. Make sure you sign a pre-nup. We didn't and now neither one of us wants to get divorced.
 
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  • #35
jimmysnyder said:
Good advice. Also, don't do like we did. Make sure you sign a pre-nup. We didn't and now neither one of us wants to get divorced.

I feel your pain, I stuck it out with my first wife for that same reason. In the end, the money isn't worth it!
 
  • #36
After careful consideration i think i am to far gone, i am sure i would not have the patience or will power to commit to a life long partnership.
 
  • #37
jimmysnyder said:
Good advice. Also, don't do like we did. Make sure you sign a pre-nup. We didn't and now neither one of us wants to get divorced.
My wife and I were living in a low-rent apartment using thrift-shop furniture and just scraping by when we got married. We were both unemployed at the time because the mill we worked at shut down, and the construction season hadn't started back up (winter). Our pre-nup would have been hilarious, like "If we break up, I get the dented Revere-Ware pot with the lid that doesn't match and the knife with the replaced wooden grip, and you get the electric fry-pan and the aluminum 2-cup percolator." Seriously, I owned clothes, an old motorcycle (no car), some hand-me-down pots and pans and kitchen utensils, some blankets and sheets, a modest stereo, some albums, and a guitar. If I had owned a car, my possessions could have fit in the back seat, easy.

I had to ask her to marry me quite a few times over the course of months before she said "yes". I'm glad she did. We both worked hard and took care of each other, and saved our money for things that were necessary. The first big thing I bought her (her birthday after we were married) was a Moosehead Maple kitchen table and a set of four matching chairs. After 32 years, I refinished the table top this summer. Should be good for another 32 years. :biggrin:
 
  • #38
wolram said:
After careful consideration i think i am to far gone, i am sure i would not have the patience or will power to commit to a life long partnership.
Are you sure that you'd have a long life , then? I mean studies show that married men live longer .But the're more willing to dieo:)
 
  • #39
Lisa! said:
Are you sure that you'd have a long life , then? I mean studies show that married men live longer .But the're more willing to dieo:)


It may not be a long life but it will be a reasonably contented one, cockney slang for wife is trouble and strife.
 
  • #40
stewartcs said:
I feel your pain, I stuck it out with my first wife for that same reason. In the end, the money isn't worth it!
Don't call her my first wife. It'll go hard on the crockery.
 
  • #41
Evo said:
If you are married to the wrong person, every day can be hell. Unfortunately, you don't find out how wrong they are until after you've been married for awhile. This is why I can't imagine people getting married without having first lived together for at least a year or two.
You are a curse upon divorce attorneys, Evo. I don't need to live with anyone for much more than a week to figure out whether or not the relationship has long term potential. Your first encounter of the 'third kind' usually tells you everything you need to know about your prospective mate. Is he/she genuinely interested, or merely climbing a mountain?
 
  • #42
Chronos said:
You are a curse upon divorce attorneys, Evo. I don't need to live with anyone for much more than a week to figure out whether or not the relationship has long term potential. Your first encounter of the 'third kind' usually tells you everything you need to know about your prospective mate. Is he/she genuinely interested, or merely climbing a mountain?

Tsu and I basically moved in together after the first date, but we waited a few years before making it official. My parents - married over 50 years - fell in love at first sight.
 
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  • #43
My boyfriend and I also moved into the same apartment within two months of dating. Now we've been living together for 3 years. Marriage is not something we really think about, we both don't like the whole theater that comes along with organizing it, only in case of a baby would I feel obliged to get married.
 
  • #44
Hi!

I am 23 years old science nerd. I haven't ever even kissed anyone.

Well, back to studying some physics... -->
 
  • #45
Urvabara said:
Hi!

I am 23 years old science nerd. I haven't ever even kissed anyone.

Well, back to studying some physics... -->


Hmmm, and i collect hens teeth.
 
  • #46
wolram said:
Hmmm, and i collect hens teeth.

And I have thought that hens do not have teeth.
 
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  • #47
Urvabara said:
And I have thought that hens do not have teeth.

The old English game chicken does, it allso lays blue shelled eggs, some think it is a throw back to the dino age.
 
  • #48
I think it's great that people stick together if they like it. I also think it's a great idea that they announce this by some ceremony, named e.g. marriage, to let the world know that they want to be considered as a union in social life and that the shop is closed for new relationships of the amorous kind.
But I don't think its a great idea that this ceremony should have any legal consequences. If the parties think there is a need for legal protection of their economic interests they should write a contract.
With the present status of marriage the consequences may be absurd if e.g. a wealthy man has married a penniless woman and they divorce after a short time.
You may consider what happened to the ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and ex-model Heather Mills.
 
  • #49
Ivan Seeking said:
Tsu and I basically moved in together after the first date, but we waited a few years before making it official. My parents - married over 50 years - fell in love at first sight.

Monique said:
My boyfriend and I also moved into the same apartment within two months of dating. Now we've been living together for 3 years. Marriage is not something we really think about, we both don't like the whole theater that comes along with organizing it, only in case of a baby would I feel obliged to get married.

Well I'm pretty sure that you know each other quite well before dating!
 
  • #50
I was surpised to see the users discussing social topics (I have just recognized it), but I appreciate that. By the way this is the most clicked topic I guess (: Anyways...

Everybody has a dream about the ideal love or the love in the movies...

Somebody make the dream reality (this rate is too small). This type of people finds the real love and never let it go... For them, marriage is not important... The importance is being together or sticking each other...

The other part of people can never make the dream reality (this rate is quiete big). They marry with someone who they supposed that they found real love. Then, the reality occurs. Love? Lost out of blue! Then, the marriage finishes. After that, they begin to search for the real one. Or, they die without tasting a real love. OR, they start a topic for searching the defition of marriage and married couples' situations to avoid their problems (:

I mean, the real love makes u blind and it never let's u ask anything about its future...
 
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  • #51
Lisa! said:
Well I'm pretty sure that you know each other quite well before dating!
Why? You can meet someone out of the blue and start dating
 
  • #52
Monique said:
Why? You can meet someone out of the blue and start dating

Sure! But dating someone is something different from living with him. I mean you need to know someone well enough to move into the same home with him/her. And 2 months or 1st date isn't long enugh for knowing someone , IMO!
 
  • #53
wolram said:
The old English game chicken does, it allso lays blue shelled eggs, some think it is a throw back to the dino age.
It's mean using ye olde English sayings :biggrin: :wink:
 
  • #54
The best thing about being married is knowing that there's someone who likes being with you more than they like being with anyone else.
 
  • #55
DaveC426913 said:
The best thing about being married is knowing that there's someone who likes being with you more than they like being with anyone else.
I don't agree, I think it should be: "the best thing about getting married.." what garantee do you have that your spouse still likes to be with you after some time of marriage? I think the best thing about being together is showing that you like to be together more than with anyone else.
 
  • #56
I'm going through a divorce right now, so I can definitely say marriage requires two equal partners who are both willing to make necessary adjustments and have the maturity to actually try to work at making a marriage work. Aside from being a parent, marriage is the most difficult job a person can ever have. It requires constant compromise.
 
  • #57
well the big question should be how could you sleep every night with the same person and how can you tolerate their snoaring and other annoyities (a new word?!)?

i mean i assume you don't act like rabits every night, 365 nights. (-:

i heard that english couples (old ones) used to sleep in spererate beds, which seems fine by me, i mean if i want a little nudging with her i just combine the beds, and if I am not then separate beds, looks like the logical approach. (-:
 
  • #58
Marriage is not a playground, its hardwork and more hardwork, while the rewards are numerous and great its still a hardwork. Definitelly agree with daveb on the most difficult job a person can have. I can easily see how the hardwork can undo the rewards if the person is not liking/willing to work. (do not ask about the nature of what I mean by work, those married can attest that its much harder than lifting rocks all day and W=F*d*cos(o) is just not going to do it to know how much is required:), its mental work and lot of it is in making compromises).

Of cause, its possible to get it without working. Thats the scenario when one partner dominates the other in all respects and hence governs as absolute ruler :D, here only 1 party may actually be enjoying it but not necessarily. Its very complex topic, I like analyzing it, which does not mean I know what I am doing :D .
 
  • #59
Lisa! said:
Sure! But dating someone is something different from living with him. I mean you need to know someone well enough to move into the same home with him/her. And 2 months or 1st date isn't long enugh for knowing someone , IMO!
Sometimes you just know instantly that it's right. I think those relationships can often be the best. Wow Monique, it seems like only yesterday that you met him. It's so nice to hear it's going so well. :smile:

I've lived alone for so long that I'm convinced that the only way I could have a successful relationship is if they lived no closer than next door and they would have to know when to leave me alone. I really enjoy time by myself, especially at night.
 
  • #60
sneez said:
Marriage is not a playground, its hardwork and more hardwork, while the rewards are numerous and great its still a hardwork. Definitelly agree with daveb on the most difficult job a person can have. I can easily see how the hardwork can undo the rewards if the person is not liking/willing to work. (do not ask about the nature of what I mean by work, those married can attest that its much harder than lifting rocks all day and W=F*d*cos(o) is just not going to do it to know how much is required:), its mental work and lot of it is in making compromises).
See, that's where I disagree, a good relationship doesn't require hard work, bad relationships require hardwork. It's when the person isn't right for you that you have to make a lot of compromises and concessions, etc...

I think the idea of marriage needing to be a difficult struggle comes from outdated ideas of marriage being some kind of sacred mistake that one needs to remain stuck in, no matter what. Back in the old days, most women either had to be married or they were considered as a burden to their family, they really didn't have much choice. Now women in most societies can support themselves and that's changed how marriage is viewed.

My parents weren't compatible, but they refused to get divorced, so they solved the problem by living in two separate homes. My mom and us kids lived at the main house and my dad stayed at the lake house.
 
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