NFT: why did you get married

figured that someday I might get married, but couldn't imagine it really happening. The same night I met my wife my friends said that I was going to marry her. The idea was ludicrous to me.

Within a matter of weeks I looked at a picture we'd posed for on a date that she had in her apartment. She had written on the back of it "the (Dan in the Springs)'s first date". I asked her sister why she was available and she told me that she was actually engaged to two other guys. One was a formal engagement that had happened a couple of years back. He moved away and they drifted apart. Another was not really formal - more like a promise made to one another. He'd moved to Denmark and they were openly dating others. Anyway, I swore her off then and there.

But what I found out quickly was that I couldn't quit her. Even when I lived more than 2000 miles away from her I remained smitten. I didn't want to ever be apart from her. I was young, single, playing around in NYC but didn't feel anything for anyone else but her, so I quit my job and drove out to see her.

I married her months later because I knew how much I hurt being away from her. I always wanted to be with her. I married because I didn't want a life without her.

That was 25 years, five kids, and soon to be (this summer) a grandchild ago. Best thing I ever did was marry her. I just came back home from a several week driving vacation where I was as free as I'd been as a single guy. I actually planned for more time away but cancelled those plans because I still don't like being away from her.

It’s good to hear successful marriage stories though. Nearly all of my friend’s parents from high school are divorced, the friends I had in high school are pretty miserable, some are very happy. Marriage isn’t for everyone and I kind of agree, it shouldn’t be “expected"

How many times do you see on “Facebook” (the be-all and end-all according to Zebrka) when a young(er) couple has been together for 5 years or more years and people comment say “it’s about time!”

…according to who, exactly?

I certainly wasn't opposed to it but I also certainly wasn't looking for it either. I really enjoyed being single and had what I considered a great life. I was content and honestly considered at the time that I may stay a bachelor for the rest of my life. I am pretty particular when it comes to woman and I wasn't going to settle just to "get married". But when I met my wife I knew that she was the one. When you know you just know. We have been happily married for over twenty years now and have two young children. Fortunately she was ten years younger than I because even though I didn't get married until I was in my thirties we waited until I was in my mid forties before we started a family.

It's funny because even though I was what would you could describe as a confirmed bachelor I now live for my family. I retired before my second child was even born and now enjoy spending most of my time being with the family. As happy as I was and as good as I thought my life was prior to getting married it pales in comparison to what I now have. I never could have imagined it being so good.

I think that for myself at least it was best not to be looking for marriage and just have it come to me the way it did. I got to do and accomplish a lot of things in my life as a single man. I will never have any regrets or "what might have been" thoughts. I can truly say I am content and happy and what more could a man ask for in life.

:)

:(

zero women worthy of marrying in our modern society

In comment 12974459 Mike in Philly said:

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my heart skipped a beat. When I looked in her eyes, the rest of the world faded; the sound of her voice drowned out all other sounds; the touch of her hand took my breath away. We were engaged six weeks after we met, and married six months later. And after 31 1/2 years, on the day she passed, my heart broke, and my world crumbled. And I would do all over again in a heartbeat...

Wow..Thats Beautiful. God Bless...

but most women are awful..

with my wife but I barely knew her as we never had a single class together. She was best friends with my cousins wife and after I moved back to NY after college I was single for about two years. I had several flings but nothing serious. My wife was dating this guy on and off for 4 years. My cousins wife routinely commented to me that she wished I would date her even though she was still in a relationship. My wife had been broken up with her bf for about a month and I met my cousin, his wife, and my wife at a local bar and we had a good time. I didn't feel ready to be in a relationship at the time but she was sweet and beautiful so i gave it a chance. After a couple of months of dating I nearly broke up with my wife because I didn't think she could handle my work schedule and I look back at that moment frequently ever so thankful that I didn't end things. I have two beautiful kids and I genuinely love my wife more today than I did on our wedding day. Our 5 year anniversary is in September and we are the happiest we have ever been. I am thankful that i am smart enough to realize just how lucky I am. We survived losing everything in hurricane sandy despite some really tough times where many couples would have called it quits.

In comment 12974699 Modus Operandi said:

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In comment 12974659 NJGiantFan84 said: Quote: Is especially enjoyable because the OP thought this was going to be a wife bashing thread, full of Unhappy stories. But only the happily married folks responded. Awesome. Well... Forty five responses (some of which were jokes) and over 3k members, last I checked. So not exactly a ringing endorsement for marriage.

Of course, I wasn't trying to imply otherwise and do not think I did. I just found it amusing that those with unhappy stories chose not to respond and those with happy stories chose to respond, while the OP clearly wanted this to be a marriage bashing thread.

so I went with the high maintenance one with expensive taste. Half kidding.

We got married, because we compliment each other so well. She's a a bit OCD, I'm more Eli Manning and relaxed. We make each other better people, and I'm the happiest man on the planet with her by my side.

were together for 10 years before we got married. We were in a committed relationship, owned a house together, etc so we really didn't see the point. Then there was a couple we were friends with who had a similar relationship where the boyfriend tragically died in a construction accident. The girlfriend had no rights in the whole situation because they weren't married. His estranged family swooped in and took control of everything from the funeral arrangements to the child they were raising together. We then realized that society doesn't respect unmarried couples in the same way. You're not considered family.