Bliss

And as flip and as trite as that last sentence sounds, it's true.

Marriage is extremely rewarding but frankly much of it's former promise pales in comparison to what's available to the modern single. I won't belabor the obvious; it's been done to death. From sexual gratification to having children to companionship to financial security; much of what was once only the purview of matrimony has been freed by cultural shifts, educational opportunity, and technology.

So is marriage outmoted? I haven't a clue.

For me it was cultrual. I got married because I wanted to. And I imagine I wanted to because it was what I was raised to do when I felt a certain way about someone. Not very romantic I guess but romance fades.

At some point you make up your mind that you've found someone that you want to raise a family, build a home, travel, attempt to build wealth, explore hobbies, etc, etc, with...or you don't and move on.

A friend confided in me once that he wanted to marry his long time girlfriend, but he wasn't sure if he could make it stick. While he was extremely attracted to her and felt she was his equal in many respects and his superior in most others, he was afraid that somebody better might come along, that his eye would rove.

I assured him that it would. I'd been married several years and had met "the perfect woman" at least a half dozen times in that span.

But I made a promise to my wife in front of God and a couple hundred witnesses that I'd "cleave unto her...." and so forth.

It's one promise I've been able to keep so far. And consequently I can sleep nights.

As much bliss as I need.