I , now 67 years young, believe that we do pass through stages in life. The human is a growing entity which seeks a balance of happy and responsibility. I have had the education, the marriage, children, big house and so on. Now kids are grown and I am divorced my second time. At this point in life, I want a soul mate sort of friend. One who thinks like me, we hold the same passion for things and have a life of discovery ahead. Yes , I do believe it would be a sad day to opt to stay with a person just because it is expected and you are not happy.

Men and women have created this concept of monagomy simply to keep a family together. It helps when there are children or when parents are old and need to be taken care of. I would say it's up to each individual. Those who look down on one side or the other is the primary problem.

I'm certainly not. Was was married 22 years, divorced 12 years now. In 3 relationships, since I divorced and I dated a lot too. He would have to be pretty special for me to stay with one guy.

No.

Apparently not...in my case...

I wouldn't say meant, as that would be a personal choice to make, and both sides would have to agree. With that said, it is and not, in the sense that while some couples move on to other partners other couples do stay together until death parts them.

No,
I think we could have numerous monogamous relationships in different timess in our lives.

A marriage is a legal contract between two people and contracts are broken all the time.
So it depends on the people that are married. They have a 50% chance of it working till death do they part.

To be very honest that's a good question I could not give a honest answer to has me thinking

I may commit to exclusivity in a poly triad, but monogamy isn't for me, and I don't even believe in the institution of marriage.

I don't think we're "meant to be" anything. I think we're indoctrinated from birth by society on many things, though.

Each to their own, I've never found anyone I wanted to marry and have been happy most of my life without that particular institution

I’ve learned first hand how much a partner can change in a short amount of time. Marriage should, I think, be legally binding with stringent laws against Infedelity, but also WAY easier to get out of, if your partner becomes a stranger to you.

It depends on how you view that one person. Are you the same person as you were 1 year ago? Do your partner think you changed? A person who believes to grow, and partner with someone who also loves to change and adapt, can the life be boring? Can't you live your tomorrow differently? Can't you make your kiss and touch to be exciting and unique for tomorrow? Why do we feel it to be the same, because we don't utilize this awesome, magical human brain to be creative, to be awesome ourselves. So, if the underlying assumption of the question is that why do we need to stay with the same, I think it's the perception problem ultimately. The new will become old in a moment. So, how you view life, how your partner views life ultimately will dictate, what's same or what's even "forever" means..

I don't think that anyone on this earth is "meant" for anything, as we are different people from one day to the next and we must be prepared to be true to ourself, OR, we will be miserable and also make someone else miserable, at times we MUST deal with the pain of being REAL !!!

Horses for courses, what works for one person might not work for another, if people didn't judge and allowed people to be themselves in consensual relationships, it would do no harm and make way for happiness, and of course why should it matter to anyone else how you conduct your private life if it harms no one else?

I think it depends on the foundations of a relationship and whether people are dynamic enough to progress in a dynamic world.

"In our possessive coupling
So much could not be expressed
So now I'm returning to myself
These things that you and I suppressed...

I know, no one's going to show me everything
We all come and go unknown
Each so deep and superficial
Between the forceps and the stone"

• • Joni Mitchell

I don't believe in monogamy. I think humans are more suited to be polygamous sexually but regarding their emotions there will always be favorites. I think humans are able to love and care for multiple people but only because they choose to not because they have to which the same could be said for choosing to be with just one. You are allowed to change your mind over time because people do change and can naturally grow apart. When that happens they should be free to go their separate ways.

I hope so... the right one will have me until the end.

I do not think humans have 'evolved' to the point where their personal preference or societal demands will keep them together 'forever'. That would take being locked in a physical cage. Marriage 'foreverness' is a religious fallacy and unrealistic societal demand. Perhaps the opposite is true as more people are choosing to delay marriage until later, forgo marriage altogether or be poly...which I would -love- to experience...if I found those kinds of special people. Many marriages occur because of archaic laws that don't allow partners to share insurance and other benefits to help them make a modern family work. After three marriages, I feel I've had enough of it...but who's to say in the future that I may be forced to marry if my partner get sick and I want to provide my insurance or death benefits to her, him or they? In that case laws and policy are driving your decision, not love...and that is a recipie for failure. There just has to be a better way to prove your love and committment to your partner(s) (if your relationship needs that) without entering into the La Brea Tar Pit of marriage. Moving forward, marriage is the last option I'll ever consider again, but I realize circumstances may arise that might make it the more pragmatic decision. Reasons for marriage will look very different in your 60's and beyond than they did 40 years previously.

I thought I would be with my 1st wife until "the end." Thought the same about #'s 2 and 3. Don't think that anymore.

Serial monogamy is the way I see it.

The simple answer is no. Just got through reading the book by Jared Diamond; Why Is Sex Fun. A very good read.

My wife and I have been married for nearly 20 years...have known each other for 20 years and although we're happy together, I was married before her. We have been, and will probably will be swingers again after the kids are a bit older and that is certainly fun (adds spice into the relationship), but as far as winning the heart...yeah, I think it's possible. She's had mine since the day we met and we are only more in love every day.

We've recently celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. Sure we've had arguments but divorce has never been remotely under consideration. But it can't be that way for everyone, and in many cases it shouldn't be. As for 'meant to be', that phrase suggests that someone or something 'means' us to be, which I don't go along with at all.