[quote=AN]
Are you telling me one can’t find 5 couples who have been happily married for 30+ years? I know 4 in my family who have crossed over the 30 year mark and are plenty happy. Happiness doesn’t mean they don’t fight. But yes, they’re happy and I can see them staying married until they die. [/quote]
A few observations. Half of all marriages end in divorce. A meaningful portion of those that remain married either (1) have a cheating spouse(s), and/or (2) because of kids, finances, reputation, and/or general inertia. Based on my experience, that group is well over half of those that remain married. Now we have to remove the folks that would LIKE to cheat but can’t because they are too undesirable for whatever reason. And we have to recall that many folks SAY they’re happy because it’s the path of least resistance. In your example, AN, how many of these couples in your family that have been married for 30+ years (who say they are happy) would admit they were unhappy in front of other family members? Probably none. Maybe they all are happy; maybe they’re not. But just because they say so, doesn’t make it so. Plenty of people in groups (1) and (2) above tell folks they’re happy, after all, even though they’re not. So, boiling it all down, I’d say the most generous estimate is that perhaps 20% of all married couples are “happy” (although, admittedly, “happy” is a tough term to define – perhaps “content” is better), although the number could easily be half that.
I don’t know many married men that – if they could snap their fingers tomorrow and keep their money and kids and not have a messy divorce – wouldn’t want a divorce. Instead, they endure… and screw around discreetly.
