How many of you are still happily married and going strong despite the changes happening all around you?

The 7-year-itch is real. You may notice some friction at the halfway points too (3.5 years).

I started noticing people in the news (celebs and such) getting divorced at 3.5 years, 10.5, same intervals. I think there is something to it.

Don't worry too much, AC. I think this will pass. Behave, learn something about yourself, move on.

24 years here, quite happy. Thanks for asking.

You are playing with FIRE! If you work with this person, change jobs, TODAY! if you are friends with this person, end it TODAY. Once married, never put yourself in this situation as all it will take is that 1st big fight with your spouse as trust me, You are having these feelings for someone else and its driving you into depression your spouse can tell and you guys are about to start fighting and then, it WILL happen. And you say this person has now backed off...good, get away and RUN, Get away, NEVER be in the same room with this person ever again. However, I don't think you will as I think you like this.
What you ARE allowing to happen...Think the Golden rule and you know exactly what to do, right? Fire, you are playing with fire.

Can't you think of something interesting to do? Being married doesn't mean you have to look at each other all the time.

I'm over 60 and not putting any bullets into myself. Married over 20 years. The ups and downs between my wife don't correlate to large national or world issues, they're specific shit within our own family.

My parents just had thier 51st anniversary, my in laws about to have thier 50th..my wife n I are super happy with the boys, we are going on 16 years, and I love her more and daily.. I would be lost without her..

Our deep faith in God is the trick, as the days get darker, we get stronger. Knowing it's closer to Christs return.. I relay on God, with all my being..

over 30 years ago, I moved back to the Northwoods. A week after I got here my sister asked me to go to a wedding with her,Youngsters from two indian families at the old Mission church, great pot luck dinner after. I said OK. I saw him across the room,an elegant man with a beautiful smile, long dark hair in braid and a white shirt.I get premonitions. I grabbed my sisters arm and said see that guy, Im going to marry him. She laughed."Its a beautiful world" started playing and he walked right over to me and asked me to dance. We were inseparable from then on.

What holds us together? Things young couples dont have anymore. They want new, different, exciting and I think they are very ME ME ME people. People our age didnt move around as much. I knew his family. Our grandmas had picked berries and herbs together. We went to the same Church. I knew how to cook his favorite foods. We were both tall, with long dark hair. We even breathed the same at night. We love our children and the grandkids live here off and on during breaks from school. We
have so much love, church, family, us, kids,laughter, our people,our Lakes and forests all braided like a tapestry around us to keep us together.
Ive often said if he comes home from hunting at 200 am and wants a blueberry pie, Ill get up and cook one for him.I keep a little notebook in my dresser. I write down all the good things about him. Like he came home sooo tired and one of the kids was here and he picked them up and hugged them and went over to the big old maple and pushed them on the swing anyhow. If I get upset with him or cranky, I go upstairs and pull that notebook out and read it and fall in love all over again.

I think the more things you have in commen the better it goes.
Couples often fall in and out of love with each other. otherwise life would be a flat line. Hills and valleys are more interesting. Just dont fall out of love at the same time. and always keep that chemistry working.

And you have SPACE. Initial attraction is good for a few years. After the woman has kids, she often turns against the husband. After all his purpose in reproduction is done. Why is he still clinging around? I think this is the basis of the 7 year itch, which usually starts with the woman wanting out.

But in our society it's important to have the guy still around to raise kids, and the raising process is 20 years or more. We weren't programmed for this. I am beyond tired of child raising and the kids' various rebellions, and they're tired of their mother and me too, but we are still at it after over 20 years.

My husband was dead weight. Had to cut him loose.

He didn't protect the household boundaries from even the neighbors, allowed them on our property with an open invitation. Didn't respect rations, and was a substance abuser.

I am.

Great post! Thank you.

Exactly

His own cousin decided to use all those idiots who pretended to be my friends...they did me a favour...

Same for my husband and I. 26 years and now empty nesters. Miss having our children at home. We also now work together. I have never understood the concept of marriage being so much work. We must have really found our soul mate in one another, it has never felt like work. The changes in society happening around us has made us thankful for one another and closer than ever.

That must be awful.

This is why I'm not involved. Where I live, 99 % are liberal and I wouldn't be able to tolerate living like that. I hope that something changes for your situation, its really sad actually because I know how it feels to be segregated from society. I couldn't imagine feeling like that in my own home.

Beautiful post! Thank you.

When each gives more than they take, that's love.

40 years in Jan, we did not even celebrate, just held each other tight and thanked God for our lives and family.

11 years here no tv. Just outdoor life style .

18 years, 13yo daughter and it gets better every day. We have issue just like everyone else, but my wife is my best friend.
Respect, communication, and great sex is necessary.

Us! We're both MAGA though.

Married to my best friend for 37 years. We have a God centered life. We work hard, raised two grown sons...He and I are very active and hike and bike and walk together as best friends all over. I am very fortunate but we work hard at it and are respectful of each other and forgiving of each other's faults.

I am very happily married. I adore my husband, he's a good man. He lets me know he is grateful to have me and the life we share. We both share traditional and conservative values. He's my rock of sanity in this insane world.

me!

15 years this summer.

Turns out I'm not that much different than her dad... likes to do GLP stuff. Weird.

18 years, more in love every day.

and that is how its done folks !

ESTE^^^^

Still love my wife dearly. Going on 10 years. True love is such a rare and beautiful thing.

This is a different kind of "Me Too!"

16 years....It was rocky at first though. Not all flowers and fancy dinners and woowoo, but very revealing about oneself and the power of love and forgiveness.