[wbill]

Mrs WBill and I, erm, "cohabited" for a few months prior to our wedding. Mostly because her landlord decided not to re-up the lease when it ran out and it didn't make sense for her to get an apartment for all of 3-1/2 months.

We're still doing fine. :-) My wife said that my contract expires after 50 years, then we'll see about re-upping it. I've still got 30-odd years to go, wish me luck. :-)

However, I'd posit that there's a big difference between two professional late-20somethings making a considered decision to live together for a short while before marriage, and a couple of teenagers right out of high school playing house for an indeterminate amount of time. This "study" likely doesn't think too much about that.

[skimbell]

I believe that the age observation that you make is the key. My wife and I lived together for a couple of years before we married. That started in the mid twenties for her and the late twenties for me. We married in her late twenties and my early thirties. Last January was the 27th anniversay of that event.

Should I still be looking for the other shoe to fall?

[Hoffer Rand]

I agree with the age factor. I think commitment also factors in. Hubby and I had been in a committed relationship for 4 years before we joined households, and we knew it was a permanent arrangement. We just hadn’t gotten around to getting the piece of paper. Of course, when you’re in your early 40’s and 50’s, you’re a little more settled in your mind with what you want and what you’re committing to. At least, we were.