There sure are some great ideas and insights on this thread. One thing that strikes me is that this is a life long consideration. Lots of people who are married or otherwise "hooked up" with someone can feel a lack of love in their life. People every age until off to the next world can either feel they have love in their life or not, no matter what their externally detectable relationship status (I mean to include all sorts of intimate relationships here
)
So, some of these ideas about love in general seem every bit as important as the question of how to establish a long term relationship. I do think the latter important to most everyone. Seems that the two things really go hand in hand, so to speak.
Be in love, be with someone, be in love with someone... all of that...
all best
Ati