I never close the door on something completely. Once I thought myself "in love" with a girl I've known since high school. She was/is beautiful, funny, smart, and essentially the much cooler female version of myself. I wanted nothing more than to be with her for the rest of my life.

Unfortunately, the feelings I experienced weren't both ways. I found myself relegated to the friend zone, which was painful for a number of years as I tried to balance the way I felt for her with my desire to have her in my life in whatever way possible.

In the end I made the decision to maintain a friendship and have been able to force those feelings away. I'd never close the book on marriage as I do believe there is a counterpoint for every soul, but the feelings I have for this girl have made dating or developing outside relationships difficult for me. I'm rather old fashioned in a way as I believe that marriage is reserved for the right person.

Never say never again. But it's going to be a while.

I'm not going to say no because you never know. It would definitely have to be the right man and there would have to be major advantages to being married.

I am not sure what marriage means to me anymore. It's a promise that is easily (and frequently) broken. The religious like to wield it as a weapon. It often creates significant financial risk for one or both parties... My kids have grown, so that "need" for legality has passed.

Is there any other way to assure rights when one member is hospitalized? Most hospitals state visits from family, only. Unmarried is not recognized as family.

Why does it always have to be the right person? Why not the left person?

I would not legally marry. But I could commit forever, if I met the right guy.

If I meet the right person? That's BIG if. I can't answer without knowing who that would be, but just based on what I know about marriage after a 28 year run that ended 8 years ago, I'd say no, no I wouldn't.

I would have to meet someone incredible for me to ever do that again

I would but would rather live together. My ideal relationship, in exchange for cooking and cleaning for me, I have sex 1-2 times a month.

No is a complete sentence!