What's Love Got To Do With It?

[Cindy C.]

Hey,

I recently celebrated my 13th wedding anniversary, and dh and I went
out to our favorite restaurant for dinner, which is our tradition. 
The number "13" must be *really* unlucky, because although my dinner
was excellent (tortilla-crusted flounder), dh's dinner was so salty as
to be inedible.  I think the cap must have fallen off the salt shaker
as they were preparing his meal or something.  

Ugh.  I wonder if dh's meal is a bad omen?  ;-)

Anyway, this latest anniversary got me thinking about two things. 
First, I started to wonder if I have the longest marriage of anyone on
OTC (of those who are willing to admit to being married, anyway).  <g>
 Surely I ought to be in contention for the title, don't you think?  I
mean, 13 years sure *feels* like a really long time.  (And to be
inclusive, let's consider "marriage" to include same-sex unions.)  

Second, I started to wonder if there is any common characteristic
among those who are married for a long time.  I know my own views of
what makes a good partner have changed dramatically since I was a
blushing bride.  But I'm wondering what everyone else thinks about
that -- what does love have to do with it?  And what else is involved?

Cindy -- who doesn't wear her engagement or wedding rings anymore
because they annoy her, and they are too small now anyway