You are so right there Sonofgloin. I believe there is not as much long-term marriages or de-facto relationships in our society now, because women do have choices now.

I shudder to think of all the couples that were effectively 'forced' to stay together in loveless 'marriages' because of religious or financial restrictions back in the 'good-ol-days'.

My parents divorced after 20 years together in the late 70's.
Mum certainly had it much tougher after divorce than he did.

Luckily for me, I am still happily married to my first husband after 24 years and have one grown daughter.
Like everyone else, we had to work at it though...

I am happy in the knowledge that our current society allows me the dignity of divorce in the unlikely event that my husband should 'stray', like my father did.

That is normal , but, unfortunately, "normal" is in the minority these days...

"Normal" is in the minority. Is that an oxymoron? :)

Normal is as normal does (thanks Mr Gump). If greater freedoms exist to allow people to leave unhappy relationships or worse abusive ones, it should be celebrated not dismissed as a bad thing necessarily.

Sure some marriages will break due to selfish reasons where one or both parties won't make an effort but that must mean something and the non-trying partner is probably best shot of in the long term.

Retchub: ”Me personally, i have been married for some 26 years, have two great grown up kids and a wife i intend to spend te rest of my life with.”

What to say; I am happy and very much in love and our own two children have reached adulthood.

All power to you Rehctub and maybe we are not the norm but merely blessed.