~They~ made the commitment John ;~D
Beyond that, I share your warm wishes for Linda's continued happy marriage.
My own situation is similar to Linda's in the basics. I too cohabitated with my husband (and still do, I guess ;~D) and we both expected marriage to come from it. I met my husband online when we lived 4 states apart. (Big western states apart, not those little NEastern states ;~D)
After getting to know each other online and then in person on expensive trips, it made more sense to us to move in together rather than have him try to move, find employment and set up another whole household. We were definately sure we would marry, and also very much needing to be sure that this relationship in person was as compatible as we thought it would be online. It was. :~D We're both mature adults, we were married the following summer, waiting that long mostly because we needed to accommodate the schedules of family for the wedding.
It's not the way everyone I know would do it. But it made sense to us. Life and love in a free country. And it doesn't usually hurt to go slow in involving the lawyers. ;~D
"Mature adults" is the key to the whole thing, I believe. My husband had been married at 23 (and divorced by 26). We met when we were 29, and married at 31.
I had not thought much about getting married at all; it wasn't a goal in itself, as it seems to be for some women (and for some guys). It didn't occur to me to marry, until I met someone I thought was worth it. :)
I know you're just yanking my chain. And I also know you understand what I meant.
Congrats also to you. May you both stay happy, healthy and madly in love with each other