[JohnPlace]

Just a few points: The Happy Marriage is not a myth, as the title of this thread suggests. I am very happily married. I "believe" she is my soul mate. Marrying her was the best decision I ever made. Every moment I spend with her is a blessing.

I can really only speak for myself, but you know, it would only take one Big Foot to prove that Big Foot is not a myth, if you get my drift.

Is my relationship in the minority? Oh, I'm sure it is. It seems as though I'm constantly hearing someone say mean, nasty things about his or her spouse.

I realize people get married for their own personal reasons, but once you've had the type of relationship that synergizes your life, it's just hard to imagine settling for anything less.

For the record, if some 19 year old hottie showed up on my front door trying to break up my marriage, I'd kick her to the curb before she got one foot over the threshhold. My wife and I agree on the importance of monogamy in our relationship (as we agree on all the big things), so there is absolutely zero chance I'd ever put myself in a position where being unfaithful was a possibility.

I would never try to tell someone else how he should or shouldn't live his own life. But 90% of my marital success has resulted from marrying the right woman. The other 10% resulted from being mature enough to recognize her and to treat her with respect.