The best policy the Tories could introduce is a proper married couples allowance

Afriend_2

Cleaver wrote: »

Seriously though, would anyone in their right mind, or not blinded by religion (same thing really), ever actually commit their whole life to someone without actually living with them beforehand?

People marry for a wide variety of reasons. Everyone's situation is different and it's difficult to try and second guess their reasoning. Have to make allowances for individual circumstance, brain chemistry, social conditioning e.t.c.

lostinrates

Cleaver wrote: »

He's a doctor. Very good looking, athletic, tanned, well-read and very well educated. He's well-travelled too, gets on well with your friends and family, is an expert cook, loves watching you enjoying your hobbies and interests and only wants the best for you. It's love, so you get married.

Then you move in together and he casually mentions that he doesn't generally sleep at regular hours because he plays online poker between 1am and 7am each night. When he does sleep he sleep-yodels. And, and he hums. Like, all the time. Oh, and he sings Little Donkey all the time, even when it isn't Christmas.

Of course.. I quite like little donkey. Its that 5/4 thing, its always intrigued me, its addictive.

Just you remember Mrs C is a saint. I bet you snore.

FWIW: dh and I did live together, from....er, about ten days after knowing each other, pretty much sight unseen. He told the person who introduced us he was going to marry me, before we'd even spoken to each other. Weird huh, but he was right.

wageslave

Tax breaks? I think people who get married, and more importantly stay married, deserve a medal never mind an extra couple of hundred quid.

Successful relationships require so much effort. I honestly admire anyone who doesn't give up from sheer bliddy exhaustion.

Cleaver

lostinrates wrote: »

Of course.. I quite like little donkey. Its that 5/4 thing, its always intrigued me, its addictive.

Wait and see if that 5/4 beat is quite so 'intriguing' for the 344th day in a row.

lostinrates wrote: »

Just you remember Mrs C is a saint. I bet you snore.

I do above a certain weight. Luckily I'm not above that weight at the moment...

lostinrates wrote: »

FWIW: dh and I did live together, from....er, about ten days after knowing each other, pretty much sight unseen. He told the person who introduced us he was going to marry me, before we'd even spoken to each other. Weird huh, but he was right.

I knew I was going to marry Mrs C after about 10 mins of our first date. Just knew. Still wanted to live with her first mind.

Cleaver

Afriend wrote: »

People marry for a wide variety of reasons. Everyone's situation is different and it's difficult to try and second guess their reasoning. Have to make allowances for individual circumstance, brain chemistry, social conditioning e.t.c.

True. But surely the only honest reason is that you want to spend the rest of your life with that person?

Obviously there are lots of other reasons: status, settling, convenience, fear, religion, obsession etc. etc. But then who am I to say that these aren't 'proper' reasons.

Afriend_2

Cleaver wrote: »

Wait and see if that 5/4 beat is quite so 'intriguing' for the 344th day in a row.

I do above a certain weight. Luckily I'm not above that weight at the moment...

I knew I was going to marry Mrs C after about 10 mins of our first date. Just knew. Still wanted to live with her first mind.

Is it just LIR that's seen pictures of Mr&Mrs C or is the reverse also true? No sarcasm Cleaver!

lostinrates

Cleaver wrote: »

Wait and see if that 5/4 beat is quite so 'intriguing' for the 344th day in a row.

Cleaver, darling, I'm alrady married to a musicain who writes (and sells) music. He hums all th time, and often, when working together as we once did, we get stuck on part of a bar for DAYS, not even a whole line or phrase. You picked a bad one to try and put me off. (DH's particular 344th day in a row shower song is December the 25th from Finney's Scrooge....)

Its small stuff. Its not what matters:who I reach out for at night,who I know thinks of me first thing in the morning, last thing at night, who'll listen to me rant about something pretty stupid, who will rgue th merits of the smurfs over the fraggles as easily as discuss art, philosophy, politics with me,who'd give me a kidney, who I'd give a heart....its small stuff, humming.

I knew I was going to marry Mrs C after about 10 mins of our first date. Just knew. Still wanted to live with her first mind.

Sometimes I think you are a bit like my DH. Maybe thats why I like you so much.

wageslave

I love to read all these romantic stories.

By the same token I adore stories about bonkers people who climb everest/ walk across the sahara/ sail round the cape in a plastic basin. Fascinating to read about but in reality you are extremely grateful you aren't them.

Cleaver

Afriend wrote: »

Is it just LIR that's seen pictures of Mr&Mrs C or is the reverse also true? No sarcasm Cleaver!

No, the only people I think I've seen a picture of on here is Graham Devon and Brodders. Which really is a shame.

Afriend_2

Cleaver wrote: »

True. But surely the only honest reason is that you want to spend the rest of your life with that person?

Obviously there are lots of other reasons: status, settling, convenience, fear, religion, obsession etc. etc. But then who am I to say that these aren't 'proper' reasons.

Interestingly, love appears only midway through Maslow's hierachy of needs.
edit: just noticed where sex appears.