I thought I might want to get married again, but thinking back on my past experiences with men, and reading everyone's comments on their own marriages, I've decided definitely not. Especially the senior women seem to be dealing with Grumpy Old Men (remember that movie?) For the first time in my life I'm on meds that WORK for my mental health. Don't need a man to make me crazy again!

I don't see marriage and commitment as one in the same.

Marriage "to me" is a legality, nothing more. I don't need a ring on my finger and a legal document in order to be completely committed to my partner and him to me (we've been together for 8 years now).

I was with my former partner/husband for 27 years and although he and I were married, our commitment to each other wasn't more significant or real because of a piece of paper than my current relationship.

My oldest son (33 years old) and his live-in partner/girlfriend (39 years old) have been together for 6 years. Neither one of them feels the need to get married. They love each other, they're committed to each other, they both take their relationship very seriously and that's all they need.

I have a long term relationship that I plan on it lasting the rest of my/his life (of course there are no guarantees in life) but I don't want marriage because I don't feel marriage is necessary for a committed long term relationship.

I agree with Leather that a lifetime commitment doesn't mean that a couple has to be married, but I've been with my husband for 33 years and married for 30, so I am with my lifetime partner. :0)

Hugs ~

LMT

The relationship is what's important. A piece of paper and rings on the fingers don't change what the relationship is. I think the legality of marriage is really designed for the "legitimacy" of children conceived.

I dont see the value in marriage, but I do in commitment and the relationship. I heard that in the US people get married because you can get better insurance or something? Is that true?

Here in Australia being de facto or getting married you have the same entitlements and I guess thats why we have only 50% marriage. Also divorce here is 1 in 2. I dont want to be married as Im scared of divorce! It sounds horrible.

I wanted to be married so badly I married badly...LOL I am now divorced and no sex and not much dating since married really....so I guess I could go for the working relationship which included married again....hugs

I guess Ya'll forgot about me who's always talking about being HAPPILY MARRIED for 11 yrs now..? LOL

I was raised in a 2 parent home , my parents almost celebrated their 51st anniversary until Mom died a few months before that date.

If my 1st wife would've been a bit less selfish,abusive n crazy I'd still be with her I suffered with her for about 16 - 17 yrs..we woulda been married about 30 - 32 yrs.. . I wasn't getting married after her. no way buddy not me no way ! lol Then 4 yrs after I left her I met the right woman..

It took us 10 yrs to have our 1st 'stupid' fight.lol
11 yrs after we met were still in love with each other & we're both happy. we spend a lot of time together too..

I don't see the big deal about marriage either, but commitment to each other & long term mates is highly respected by a lot of ppl now.. The devorce rate is so high now 50% last I heard, that it's not worth ppl getting married.
I think ppl just don't know much about compromise n how to accept their mate for who they are & forgive each others mistakes/wrong doings, ect..

My youngest son & his now wife were together 19 yrs. & had 3 kids before getting married.
He wanted to be sure That's who he wanted to be married to I guess. lol

I still want marriage and all the trimmings. Maybe the fairytale is important to me.
The last guy I dated had a live-in for a few years. They parted 2 years ago. He seemed miserable, she is a real bitch. She didn't even want him to see his family or friends who live a few blocks away. They didn't date much before she moved in.
I also believe in long engagements!!

I am 51 and never married. Engaged 3 times and ran for the hills!
I guess I am the run-away bride! LOL!!

However I do now think I would like to be married.

But sometimes when I see what my married friends go thru and I say NO WAY! hahahaha!

I would like a loving long term partner though for sure.

The real benefit that I see for marriage really is that if one of you gets really sick the other still has a say in what goes on.

Staying thru thick and thin is what I am talking about.

Been married twice and divorced twice. I want a relationship but not another divorce, so I will never get married again!

To each his own. My parents will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in March. Like I said, I've been married 30 years. My oldest son just got engaged this past October and I ofcourse wish him and his fianc a lifelong marriage. They are getting married next year on my parent's wedding anniversary ( that happened as a fluke, but my son and his fianc are really happy about the coincidence ).

I do agree that it's not about the ' piece of paper'. It's about the commitment. Period.

Being married offers several benefits when it comes to protection of the laws. The ceremony of marriage is very symbolic for some people and it means a lot. People have been performing marriage ceremonies before there were courts and Jesus, it is an ancient tradition.
I think you can meet a marriage minded partner if this is what you want.

Call me crazy... But I guess I will be the odd one out (as usual, lol). I believe in LOVE. That is what matters. I have been married & divorced 2 times, & engaged 2 other times (the last engagement I ran from, and am currently engaged now). I cant wait to marry my fianc, regardless of my history. You'd think I would be totally against it- but Im not. To me, I don't pay attention to the paper- Its about the bond. Anyone can be in a relationship- but getting married takes it that final step. I have never-ever- told a partner that I wanted to get married... Im not one of those girls that demands a ring or marriage- but the men I've been in relationships with have always asked me to get married- and the funny thing is- several of them told me they never even thought of marriage before me. Sometimes "staying thru thick and thin" is not the right thing to do. Yes, you should try absolutely everything you can to make it work- but it takes 2 and sometimes the other person in the equation does not make the effort you do- Or they could be abusive, or liars.