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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsHow long have you and your SO been together.? Rich and I have been married for 47 years, And you?
Deep State Witch
(12,662 posts)We were in a long-distance relationship when we were in college. Once I graduated, I moved to the DC area. He followed me 6 months later. We've lived together since 1992, and got married in 1994.
debm55
(58,235 posts)RainCaster
(13,480 posts)Got married in 1980. It's been a wonderful life with her.
debm55
(58,235 posts)gab13by13
(31,693 posts)It was a snowstorm that day.
debm55
(58,235 posts)MANative
(4,188 posts)Married in 1982. He's sometimes a cantankerous old man, but still worth keeping around most of the time. 😄
debm55
(58,235 posts)FM123
(10,348 posts)Sometimes it feels like a hundred years ago and sometimes it feels like just yesterday....
debm55
(58,235 posts)CanonRay
(16,039 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)woodsprite
(12,567 posts)Started dating when we were 13yo, got married when we were 22. I invited him to our school's "Sadie Hawkins" dance as a first date in 9th grade, and we've been together ever since.
debm55
(58,235 posts)OLDMDDEM
(3,095 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)surrealAmerican
(11,795 posts)... and married 35.
debm55
(58,235 posts)flor-de-jasmim
(2,270 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)LakeVermilion
(1,541 posts)Probably lasted way longer together than anyone would have predicted at the wedding. So, I'm guessing: about 58 years.
I might note that my current friends have indicated that I married up!
debm55
(58,235 posts)Tikki
(15,071 posts)We were married in the Summer of 1967..What was called The Summer of Love.
Were coming up on 59 years this Summer.
The Tikkis
True Dough
(26,159 posts)What do you consider the key to your longevity as a couple?
debm55
(58,235 posts)AllaN01Bear
(28,983 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)friends, activities and you. Enjoy you journey in life, my friend.
AllaN01Bear
(28,983 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)would not divorce. However, they did have 3 kids, That they showed no love to. If I hadn't met my husband, I would have stayed single.
2naSalit
(101,194 posts)46 years ago, still doing okay.
MontanaMama
(24,653 posts)and you didnt even know it!
2naSalit
(101,194 posts)If only there was a prize with a cash reward for trailblazing! I'd be in a really good place right now!
debm55
(58,235 posts)If I had stayed married, I'd have been made to have a bunch of kids I didn't want and not been able to pursue my artistic nature. It was over when he started making noises about having kids and being a housewife... wasn't going to happen since I had only liberated myself from childhood slavery a few years prior where I was forced to serve as mother to my younger siblings for over 6 six years. They were all on diapers when it all started.. cloth diapers, three kids. That was where I decided I would never have children, before I was ten.
Marriage in my generation was still acquiescence to a form of domestic slavery and I was not going to be a victim as an adult.
debm55
(58,235 posts)2naSalit
(101,194 posts)And glad that you had the ability to adopt. I had wished, for all those years, that someone would have adopted me.
As hard as it has been to be a single woman in the world and trying to earn a living, I'm glad I was able to retain my personal freedom. If that's ever taken from me, I'll simply will myself to die and fuck up the plans of whomever had designs on my life. I'm old and not afraid of leaving this realm.
debm55
(58,235 posts)through early menopause. My husband's family was merciless it getting him to divorce me as I was "barren" . Rich didn't. Both my
adopted son and I were not included in my in-laws estate.
iamateacher
(1,117 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)HappyH
(196 posts)Its cold today so I not taking my socks off to figure how many years that is.
debm55
(58,235 posts)MontanaMama
(24,653 posts)so I guess thatll be 31 years his summer. It has indeed been an adventure!
debm55
(58,235 posts)Bmoboy
(616 posts)50!
That sneaked up on me.
debm55
(58,235 posts)Climate Crusader
(157 posts)She was married for 35 years. I was married for nine years. We married each other two years ago. So we've been married 46 years.
debm55
(58,235 posts)Climate Crusader
(157 posts)Turbineguy
(39,920 posts)Got married in 1978.
debm55
(58,235 posts)BarbaRosa
(2,730 posts)married '84. It's been a wonderful ride.
debm55
(58,235 posts)TBF
(36,063 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)Dulcinea
(9,878 posts)We got married 3/22/97, so we're coming up on our 29th anniversary next month.
debm55
(58,235 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)justaprogressive
(6,665 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)Solly Mack
(96,684 posts)Married 35 years.
debm55
(58,235 posts)Together.
Coolgoober
(260 posts)7th grade. We didn't really meet. We just kind of got acquainted through others. We were just friends (I had a crush on her)we would hang out and talk mostly at school. In the summer Between 8th and 9th grade we would talk on phone and sometimes walk half mile to meet each other then we would walk to my house and hang out. We were young and my parents both worked but hey we were just friends, right? Yeah until that one time I walked her home and she kissed me(I was really shy) oh what a kiss. It was a doozy. After a couple more kisses came heartbreak. I went to a different high school. Naturally at that age we kind of just hung out with our own peeps. We still lived a mile apart but it might as well been a hundred. Ok, this is getting really long. I'll try to shorten up. We would see each other from time to time and talk. At the end of 10 grade I got my driver's license. Right of passage, right. I saw her a couple times that summer, even gave her some rides. So when the next school year started I jump on the first opportunity to invite her to a dance, then a party or two and then to my house. More kisses. But she had guys chasing her at her school and I had girls chasing me from my school. So we would go out once in a while and have a blast, but we were not exclusive. Senior year came and people at both our schools knew we were a couple. So we made it official, we were going steady. Then we went to different colleges but I was stubborn, I wasn't letting her get away. Again it was hard and again we dated other people. That didn't last long and we were back together. Then I really threw a wrench in the whole thing. College wasn't for me so I dropped out and joined the Marine Corps. I spent every waking moment with her for the ten days leave I had after basic training. We talked about marriage but nothing definite. Then about five months later after some schooling and I knew where I'd be stationed. I took a 96 hrs leave, flew home asked her to marry me. We got married in fall of 82 so 43 years and counting. Sorry so long but trust me ,I gave you the abbreviated version. Thanks for asking, debm55
debm55
(58,235 posts)for sharing with us. PS. It's not to long of a post.
Mad_Dem_X
(10,163 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)subterranean
(3,752 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)kimbutgar
(27,021 posts)I cant believe Ive been married this long!
debm55
(58,235 posts)Emile
(41,502 posts)Last edited Tue Feb 10, 2026, 01:31 PM - Edit history (1)
We were married in a one room country church on February 14th 1976.
debm55
(58,235 posts)happiness.
RandySF
(82,362 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)pandr32
(14,011 posts)My first was in Canada and lasted 16 years. My current fling has been going on for 25 years.
debm55
(58,235 posts)pandr32
(14,011 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)lucca18
(1,451 posts)We both grew up in New York (20 minutes from each other).
We did not meet until we were both working for the same company in California!
debm55
(58,235 posts)life.
ProfessorGAC
(76,199 posts)Been together since we met on June 2nd, 1978. (It was 11:30pm, by the way. I've always gotten brownie points for being the one that remembered that.)
debm55
(58,235 posts)kacekwl
(9,005 posts)Been together 49.
debm55
(58,235 posts)cloudbase
(6,216 posts)Still going strong.
debm55
(58,235 posts)happiness.
MiHale
(12,792 posts)No wonder were both crazy.
debm55
(58,235 posts)sometimes driving each other crazy. Love ya, deb.
Dorothy V
(474 posts)I still feel his presence. I am sure I always will.
MIButterfly
(2,367 posts)I extend to you my deepest sympathy.
Dorothy V
(474 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)you, my sweet Dorothy V. Love, Deb.
Dorothy V
(474 posts)I know you are right, Love never ends.
debm55
(58,235 posts)Luciferous
(6,574 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)happiness.
OldBaldy1701E
(10,719 posts)We officially wed in 2004, so about to have our 22nd anniversary in a few months.
debm55
(58,235 posts)dlilafae
(386 posts)45 years together, 44 years married.
debm55
(58,235 posts)for 45 years,
retread
(3,903 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)Wuddles440
(2,022 posts)and she was a junior. After I failed to convince her to attend the college that I had committed to, I somehow managed to have her consider one that was acceptable to both of us. Consequently, I made the rash decision to transfer to this institution in the Spring of my freshman year (in hindsight, I would not recommend for anyone to let a romantic relationship determine their choices for higher eduction if they value their emotional well-being, mental health, and career options). Two years after she graduated in1982 we got married (again, not recommended until both partners are mature enough for such a commitment and financially stable). However despite some marital struggles over the years, we've stayed married, raised two wonderful (usually) children, evolved both personally and as a couple, and are happily enjoying our respective retirements together. Must have been fate - which I firmly believe it was so.
debm55
(58,235 posts)together,
Wuddles440
(2,022 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)Endlessmike56
(154 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)continue your journey of love and life.
walkingman
(10,543 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)love , together.
livetohike
(24,128 posts)for 53 years
.
debm55
(58,235 posts)Pisces
(6,186 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)life together.
MIButterfly
(2,367 posts)I'm one of "those crazy cat ladies who's ruining the country with her poor choices." Not really, but you know the stereotypical so-called "old maid."
But I love reading about other people's love stories and long marriages! I guess I'm a bit of a romantic at heart.
Thank you for this thread, debm55; I really enjoyed reading all the stories!
debm55
(58,235 posts)are and you should be proud of that. Many people marry because of other reasons and not on love. I admire you for not giving in to marring because , it's the thing to do.
We love you for who are.
Ninga
(9,003 posts)We met at 16 and went to the Senior Prom together. I am very very fortunate. He is the sweetest.
debm55
(58,235 posts)CTyankee
(67,929 posts)I had had a terrible first marriage and swore never to marry again! He said, very simply, "We can be happy."
That just tore into my heart because after so many years of misery with my ex I believed I COULD be happy again.
This has been the best of my 86 years on this earth.
debm55
(58,235 posts)love, peace and happiness.
onethatcares
(16,972 posts)would be 54 on February 28 this year.
Cancer took her last November
Her birthday is February 13
I miss her more than words can say
debm55
(58,235 posts)you.
MoonlightHillFarm
(83 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)mommymarine2003
(353 posts)My career Marine father had returned from Vietnam and was then sent to Headquarters Marine Corps in DC. While he was at war, we had been living in Spokane, WA, where our relatives lived, just in case he did not return from the war. My future husband's father was career Air Force stationed at the Pentagon at the time. It turned out that my (future) husband's grandparents lived in Spokane, which gave us something to talk about. We started dating in 11th grade. I moved to Stuttgart, Germany for my senior year of high school. My parents allowed me to return to Virginia the 2nd half of my senior year to graduate. I then attended Washington State University, and my future husband transferred from James Madison to Washington State Univ. in 1973. We were married during spring break in 1975. It will be 51 years in April but have known each other for 58 years. How time has flown. We have 3 kids and 7 grandchildren ranging in age from 21 years to 8 months. I feel very fortunate.
debm55
(58,235 posts)Raftergirl
(1,821 posts)he was a good friend of his. They both wanted to ask me out. I would never have even considered going on a date with the council person. H asked me out first and the rest is history.
debm55
(58,235 posts)gopiscrap
(24,606 posts)3825-87867
(1,852 posts)gopiscrap
(24,606 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)lonely bird
(2,833 posts)We dated for 7 years before we got married. I was, how does one say, a bit immature for a few years.
Just recently my wife found a pair of flannel pajamas she was making for me before we got married. The bag had a sales slip from Jo-Ann Fabrics dated 1983. Fortunately, I was able to fit in them (only because I lost 130+ lbs on Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes).
debm55
(58,235 posts)lonely bird
(2,833 posts)We are working on the health part.
My wife has had a rough three years. She had adult scoliosis correction in 2023 and was having pain during recovering. Then she was getting weakness and pain in her right leg. We went to a different surgeon who did an in depth history followed by an x-ray. The scoliosis surgery was done well. It turns out the ball of her right hip collapsed so she needs hip replacement surgery. We keep plugging away.
KPN
(17,217 posts)encompassed here.
So we 46 plus years
and it keeps on getting better.
debm55
(58,235 posts)and your SO, may your both continue your life journey together with love, happiness and good health.
Zackzzzz
(324 posts)As we've lived our lives and we took on new avenues,
we liked doing the same things together.
Like today, we kept bumping into each other in the kitchen,
in front of the fridge..
3825-87867
(1,852 posts)we gotta be doin' something right! LOL(but gently!)
debm55
(58,235 posts)friend.
chouchou
(2,958 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)chouchou
(2,958 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)Vinca
(53,593 posts)GentryDixon
(3,139 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)of peace, love, and understanding.
LuckyCharms
(22,220 posts)debm55
(58,235 posts)with love, peace and comfort for each other
CareyOn
(82 posts)We have both experienced some tough and frightening health surgeries and I
can't imagine getting through those times without the mutual support. We usually find a way to laugh through the ongoing pain.
