Had a one night stand that lasted 26 years, three months, 26 days and about 12-1/2 hours

A third date.

Well...I'd say a year at the minimum, yes. It's more the intention that counts when you say you're looking for it, I think - are you ltrying to get someone to be with for the rest of your life? I guess on a more realistic note, you might say a large part of your life. But as for looking back on it...I couldn't label mine. They were all quite important, with all but one being very important and serious to me (well, it was at the time but looking back on it, it really wouldn't have worked anyways, for multiple reasons), but only one of them lasted a little over a year straight through. Two of them were a couple years on and off, one was just over 6 months, and that last, less important one was two months...in summary, if you're looking for long-term, I believe the intention needs to be that you're getting into a serious relationship that you want to last. I don't think you really need to quantify the time if you don't want to.

In my lifetime so far long term seems to be about 12 years. I have never been with anyone longer than that. Once it ended by death after 12 years, and this last time was by divorce after 12 years. I have had other relationships that were less time.

At my age anything over about 20 mins would count as long term lol

I think it comes down to intent. No relationship may last forever. The wish to remain with someone until an end is reached, death etc., Is what I would consider longterm. Obviously, we all change in different ways and to different degrees, this may change the dynamics of such as to make the continuation burdensome to impossible. I do not think there is anything for this. It should be taught as a given I would venture.

Anything beyond a one night stand.

Maybe a poll would've been better for this? I'd say at least one or two years... anything under a year is short-term in my book.

Just my oppinion.

Yes, it can.

I've only been in 4. My first was 6 years, then I had a girlfriend who was terminally ill so that only lasted two years, then married again 12 years, then another girlfriend for 10 years.

I think anything that lasts beyond the "honeymoon" stage -- by honeymoon I don't mean the trip you take after a wedding, but after all the intensity and excitement at the beginnings of a relationship wears off and you're faced with the day-to-day living with your partner. This is the place where a lot of relationships break off, because people think it's not love anymore, but actually it's love that's changing into something deeper, solid, and more steady. Two people who have each other's backs and want to be there for each other, and still have both the closeness and flexibility in their connection. The strongest trees have the deepest roots, but are still able to sway in the breeze.

not an easy answer but i would say anywhere well after the honeymoon period is long term.

IMHO, You can call it long term when you wish to end it but remember something that makes it worth to endure hard times.

A bad marriage

12 months. I htink once you have experienced all gthe seasons, that is long term

I prefer long lasting to long term. The latter relates better to confinement than internal choice; such as, the more severe the crime, the longer the term. It is like hearing a school has been locked down when for years it was applied to prisons.

There's also the expression that 'married men (women) don't live longer. It only seems longer'.

Lasting long describes to me, something altogether diffferent in nature. There is no hint of any 'sentence' or qualifying chronological measure. It conveys the idea of somethiing having a life of it's own that is lasting. Lasting love and fidelity transcend time definition and ideally at least, life itself.

I consider long and short term to only apply to intentions and continuation. A relationship that lasts for life is long term, a relationship that is not intended to last for life is short term. After its over "term" no longer applies. It is simply long or short and at that point it is relative.

That's a good question. I think long term certainly varies depending on the intensity of the connection shared. If you're with someone who makes you feel alive and whole, then truly any number of years with them would feel like a beautifully long time.