I love my boyfriend very much.  When a couple gets together and builds a new future for themselves off nothing do they work out?  When you try so hard what is the final outcome?  Do couples doing all this 'construction work' on their lives make it to marriage?  Or do they normally detour on the way?  What is your opinion?
210447
When my husband and I started out on our relationship over 17 years ago we did not have a lot of things. We rented an apartment and several houses along the way, have had several vehicles that turned out to not be very reliable, and even had to stay with my parents a few times. We are still together and stronger then ever.We now have a house of our own { for 3 years now} and a reliable truck to get him back and forth to work.  So do I think that a relationship can last? Yes, definitely. As long as you truly love one another and really want it to work then nothing can stand in your way. I hope that I have answered your question and good luck. By the way, I was only 16 when I got married and we have been married for 17 years and together for 2 years before that. We made it and so can you!
656710
almost 3 years ago i met a wonderful man.  He and i met online by accident and started chatting.  after almost a year of that, we finally met and it was so wonderful!  We were in love for the next year and half.  we are still good friends and visit each other as often as possible (long distance relationship) I love him with all my heart and he loves me too, just the distance plays a huge sad role in our lives.  No real chance of us being together as a couple on an everyday basis.  he cant leave his hometown in canada due to his job and other things and i cant leave mine because i have small children and my job here. so other than that detail, we would still be together as a couple.
47854
DON'T MOVE IN WITH HIM!!!  I am working on becoming a social worker.  You don'w know how bad it is for a relationship when the couple lives together.  Only 5% of the couples that live together before marriage actually make it to the wedding day.  If you want a serious relationship, don't move in with her.
334146
My g/f and I are madly in love with each other but due to the job market we only get to see each other on weekends.\nWe try to make the best of it and yes, at times its hard but the weekends we get together we are able to over look any problems that has come up over the week and spend every moment we can in each others arms.\nI truely believe that being apart has reenforced our love for each other.
98108
Why is he still single (unmarried) at 43? Why do you always have to start the discussion about moving in together? Why did he make that remark?\n\nI think you are right to wonder about his commitment to the relationship. But don't overreact - take it easy. I may be wrong!
417357
I heard of a couple who wrote letters to each other. Never met. But when they did (after 6 months of writing), they met and a few days later, got married. They have been together for over 20 years. So cute.\n\nI've also heard of another couple. One was a nursing student and the other went into the Air Force. They were apart for a couple years... but they waited for each other and visited every now and then. After all of that, they got married. They were together for over 60 years. Aww.\n\nAnd another one. He was friends with a girl for a long time. They met through mutual friends. He always loved her... since before they even met. He saw a picture of her and instantly fell. She only loved him as a friend. Eventually, she realized her feelings for him. They have been together for 9 months now. This is my boyfriend and I.\n\n\nInspiring, isn't it? : }
331867
I don't think marriage fails, we do. Marriage is a great concept, it's people who mess it up.\nI was married for 15 years and finally got up the nerve to make him get out.\nI never cheated on him, I don't think cheating is EVER the answer to anything.\nIf a person feels they need to cheat to prove a point or to find something missing, then by God , grow some balls and end the relationship.
315983
I think every relationship is going to be different.  I've connected with guys right away to where we've skipped the whole "dating" thing and moved on to the "pinned" stage. \n\nI've also been with guys through all the stages .. plus a divorce .. so I think you're pretty down with the steps of love.  There might not be a right way or a wrong way but with the media and family influence I think it's in our minds there's certain things we need to achieve before getting married.  It makes sense !  \n\nI have to watch myself when I start my relationships .. I tend to over plan them and then I find out they were losers to begin with .. haha J/K ..\n\nLove is Crazy ... People have so many different ways of showing it.  You just have to find that one person that loves you for you !
43232
It (probably) means that it wasn't meant to be. You two have lived it up and have produced two lovely children. I'm sure the both of you love them more than life itself. But perhaps that's where it ends...It seems like you have tried everything. Hell, you even went to counseling. Good job on both of your parts. You two want it to work. Maybe you're going through a phase? Maybe you should spice things up a bit. Join a club together, join together in a new sport, go hiking, camping, maybe you could spend less time with each other. Mabe ALL you need is a BREAK. C'mon now...16 years together. THAT tells you something. It cannot just stop like that. Do not give up. There is a reason why the two of you are together. There is a reason why you met, why you got married, why you decided to create children. Reminisce together about the days when you were younger, the crazy things you guys did for each other, the first time you told each other 'I Love you', etc. Do not give up. If it's an attraction/physical thing, work it out (Literally). Get sexy, make him look at you like you're the hottest thing to have walked this earth. It's not over sweetie. I believe in you guys.
53265
I married my best guy friend and we were married for 8 years.  We had EVERYTHING in common.  Same taste in movies, t.v. shows, food, friends.  Only one problem, no sex.  We never had the chemistry that you can only have with true love.  We were always just best friends.  He never treated me poorly and we got along great and everyone thought we were the perfect couple.\nWe finally parted ways and are still very good friends.  I am re-married and he is engaged and both realize what we had was never really a marriage.  We got married for the wrong reasons.  I mean it's great to be with someone you get along with, but if there's no spark it's not going to work.  You will both be unhappy and always wanting more.  I am with a guy now who I enjoy being around and that challenges me.  We don't have the same interests, hobbies and friends but I am happier than I ever was in my first marriage because I am truly in love with him.  Sure I love my ex husband and always will but it's more like brotherly love than anything.  Hope this helps!!
542058
Tell me about it, feel like giving up every relationship always ends up wrong.  eg: my last relationship was going great untill he got a new job which required him to move back to america...so that ended like all the others....is there any hope out there?
516639
Move: It depends on the stage I am at in my life.  Since I am nearing the completion of my B.A., moving right now would be horrible!  After graduation, then yes. My fiance, however, has agreed to move wherever I find a good grad school; so his answer would be yes right now, but no once he starts his new stage in his education.\n\nHurtful: Yes.  Part of being in love is fighting and making up.  My fiance and I bicker like an old married couple and do say hurtful things to one another at times, but we always make up and know we love one another.
355174
Here's our story...tell me what you think.\n\nWe originally met in 9th Grade, he was the new boy in school.  We became fast friends and soon became more than that.  We were inseperable, many crazy adventures and all that fun young love stuff.  We broke up just before the school year ended because of our friends...you know the only people you listen to when you are 15 years old.\n\nWe stayed friends over the years, going for coffe every month or so to catch up.  I had the travel bug so after high school I moved around a bit, when I was gone he met someone else and married her.  On one of my stops home I found out he had married this girl (who I knew & knew she was not a good person), I told him my concerns & in my heart I knew that if he said me wanted he back I'd go.  He didn't so I was off on my journeys again.\n\nWell when I was 31 I moved back to my home town.  As luck would have it we met up one night, he was still married to the girl but he had been living in his basement for the last 6 years and had little or nothing to do with his wife.  He was miserable. \n\nWe spent that night catching up, when it was time to go home he grabbed my hand and said he let me go once & he was never going to do that again.  He moved out the next day and we are now married and have a beautiful 3 year old little boy.  \n\nSo no, I don't worry about him leaving me for someone else.  I think it all depends on the situation, and the rest of the story.  People look for love outside of their relationships because there is usually something wrong within their current relationship.  Others are just really shallow and want a "trophy wife"...those relationships never work out.
548944
I have been with my partner for 20 years and yes we have had or ups and downs but were happy.I think as long as you  talk to each other and and try not to take each other for granted you will go a long way.Also enjoy each others company, have lots of laughs even if they are childish.Just enjoy each other.
667349
I'm in a 10 year realtionship with the girl of my dreams.  We try not to worry about the hate in this world.  We overcome obstacles together, like other couples.  You don't have to have kids or even a marriage certificate to truly be happy or to "bind" your relationship, you just have to love each other and all the pieces will fall into place.  Everyone has a soulmate out there somewhere, sometimes you just have to be a little more open minded to find them!  I absolutely believe that you will find happiness with the right person.
190091
oh no, I love my guy and we have had it rough over the last eight months, we work it out. our love is stronger than any fight, but you have to really really know you love him and he love you for it to work.
440324
Why not ask my ex-wife who thought it would be better to go out with a 53 year old married man instead of working on our marriage.  (Just a little vent here, I'll feel better, LOL.)\n\nI do believe too many folks give up too easily, or don't really try at all, or have unrealistic expectations of what marriage offers. \n\nMarriage is not give and take, it is give.\n\nI don't recall anything in my vows that said I'll be there unless I'm not happy.  They were a pledge to be there, regardless of circumstance.\n\nToo many folks either don't take traditional vows, or don't really think they mean anything, given the numbers of divorced people today.\n\nI don't know how to help folks decide that they are going to try.  All it takes if for one of the partners to bail out for the marriage to be over. \n\nSo we can coach and coach, but if one partner is selfish and chooses affairs, or abuse, or abandonment and divorce over working through the issues, I really don't know how you can solve that.\n\nI certainly wanted to work on the issues, but was unable to convince my ex-wife that her affair with a married man was a worse solution than working on our marriage.\n\nAnd the courts and society at large seems to go right along with her line of thinking.  If you are unhappy, don't bother looking at yourself, blame your partner and find another seems to be the way things are done.\n\nI agree, often they will end up with the same problems because they too are part of the problem, but failed to address that aspect of it.\n\nYou can run away from your spouse, but you cannot run away from yourself.  So if you have things that you need to address about yourself, then do that BEFORE you choose an affair or divorce.