How much did getting married change you?
 

I married late in life... really late... @52...

We did the long distance relationship thing so her daughter could finish high school in Portland OR. In hind sight that was probably a good thing because it gave me time to transition into sharing my space.

She has moved in and... well... things are different...

Not in a bad way, I love sharing my bed, pretty cool that some cleaning gets done around the house that I didn't do... frankly I lived like a wild man, drank like fish, spent money like a drunken sailor (no budget), didn't keep doctor appointments...

Change is good.

I won't lie, it has been a little uncomfortable.. as one lady comedian said "single men live like bears with furniture". Kinda weird to move from total chaos to an ordered life, but at 55 I don't think I would have lasted long at my old lifestyle.

I'm just curious, you guys (and gals) who married young(er) was cohabitation easier?

Ciao!

I think there is always a need to adapt to each other. My way of living/doing things isn't always the best. Neither is her way. Learning to communicate effectively with each other has been the biggest challenge, and we both have made a lot of progress on this.

We were living together for 8 years before getting a marriage license... Changes? Yeah... she's on my insurance (and now my kids), we file jointly for taxes, etc. As far as life and relationship? No ...

Yes, communication, communication, communication!

One funny thing... when we were living apart we couldn't get enough of each other... went we were together we were all over each other... now we are planning for 'space' apart, boys night out, girls night out, etc.

Is that normal?

No much at all, really. We figured out all the big stuff in advance, made some communication tweaks like Jim (which is sooo critical: pay attention, youngsters!) and moved on to raising our children.

I didn't get married until I was 35 (my wife is nine years younger than I am) but I had a good sense about what I wanted out of life and was willing to wait to find the right person to marry, a person who would not occasion major changes in my lifestyle other than the responsibility of raising children.

The same is true for her, BTW: Twenty-two years later she remains smarter, better looking and more talented than I.

Yup - just 'cause you are married doesn't mean that you have to spend every possible moment with your spouse. Time away is healthy... as long as it won't get you in more trouble "Honey, I know I said to go out for a beer with your friends, but you didn't have to have the beer at the titty bar!"

my wife forbids me from responding to this thread..

My wife just left for work, she wrote mine above.

She is an itch with a "B".

Yup. Made me realize why some guys are happily gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that.;)

I got married late both times. First one was at 32 & second one at 55. I've always been one who was completely happy living life by myself. Always had GFs and thought that was nice since I could pick & choose when I wanted company and sex was always available whenever I felt the urge. Keeping a string of ladies on the line for variety was always nice too. My first marriage was to an impressive lady. One of my motivations was most of my friends already had kids, and at 32 I was sort of feeling I was behind in that respect. She ended up getting sick & couldn't have kids after that, and after a decade we grew apart professionally and socially in some respects and went our separate ways. My idea was to live the bachelor life frugally again, not get married, and retire to South America, and vagabond around South America, China, & wherever else on my savings & retirement. That didn't happen since I let a lady into my life & married her at 55. She had been pursuing me from shortly after I parted ways with my first wife. Sometimes I think I could be traveling through some remote location somewhere, but I'm happy with my life as it is. We get along famously and love each other enormously, so I'm happy with the way things turned out and wouldn't change it.

Paul, too funny!!

My wife and I have been married 25 years. It has turned into an unbreakable bond. We talk, plan together, respect each other's ideas and time. We get along less great apart and really great together. The original question on this thread is: Did getting married change you? I have to say, no, but it focused us both on our good sides together; so no change, just good amplification.

3rd time is a charm.

I pretty much got married so my then GF wouldn't leave me. She's the only person in the world I can stand to be around for more than about three days at a time and I honestly never get tired of her. Everyone else, I'm happy to see once a year and keep in touch via email. Before marriage, I was very happily single and had quite a game going. I have never been lonely, but am happy to be alone. I don't ask permission for anything and we pretty much do whatever we want. It's a good situation, especially given that we have no kids and both have good jobs. I hope it stays this way.

I married my wife when I was 45 and she a dog's life younger.

That cheesy Jack Nicholson line from "As Good As It Gets" totally applies to us. She "makes me want to be a better man."

And we couldn't be happier.

I'm the head of the house....but my wife is the neck and the neck can turn the head any direction she wants.

Seriously, I met her when she was 17 and I was 27 but we didn't get married for ten years. We've been married for 25 years now.

We are best friends and do everything together. EVERYTHING. There is no boys night out or girls night out because we would rather stay home and be together.

Plus...and it's a BIG PLUS...she is a Porsche fanatic!!

This is my first time down this road... if I had to do it again I think it would kill me...

I am #3 hubby for my wife... she is a slow learner ;)

I also was fat and happy at 52 I figured would spend the rest of my days single (however I am neither rich or good looking so I did not have nookie on tap like many of you do/did).

Strange thing is I don't remember "deciding" to get married... I just knew she was the one... It was totally absurd because when we met we lived a thousand miles apart... and even more strange she agreed to the whole kooky idea (did I mention that I am neither rich or good looking?)

i'd probably be dead by now if i didn't get married. 40 years.

We got married later in life. After 20 years of marriage I could not be happier.

The biggest difference is having two incomes. We are both cheap and don't spend money on stupid stuff. We live in a house that I could have never purchased on my own. We have no debt and I don't have to ask permission to spend what I want on my toys. She would love for me to replace my 85 Carrera with a new Cayman. I just don't want to spend that much money. I have not had a car payment in this millennium. I don't want to break that streak.

I suspect she will retire in the next year or two. I enjoy my laid back job and I will work for may more years.

My wife is my best friend and there is no one who I would rather spend time with. We share all responsibilities equally, including raising two kids. Couldn't imagine being happier than I am now.

My username isn't a coincidence.........:cool:

I got married at 22. Young by most standards but I was ready, mainly because my party days started at 13. By 21 I was tired and ready to surrender.:p All kidding aside she's the best thing that has ever happened to me. Thanks to her I went back to school for my BS and am now working on my MBA, have three great kids, and have achieved more in life than I ever expected to. She's my best friend and we do everything together by choice, after 10 years we still do our best to go out on a date at least once weekly. I'm still waiting for her to come to her senses....

I've been married so many times... I got rice marks on my face! Flying transports in the military for damn near 3 decades, wasn't a good stay at home job. But change.....never !

This is something she is helping me with... I spend money like water... I have a modest watch collection that doesn't bother her much... she is a little confused with my knife collection...

However the worst is my foodie obsession... I was spending hundreds of dollars on high end food and drink every month... I have had to throttle back on that some.

Married to my first wife 18 years now. I enjoy keeping up the marital relations, read sex here. I like the companionship and creating your own family is an experience that cannot be properly communicated.

Which time?

Pretty much...

I know one couple that thinks they DESERVE a lavish vacation each and evey year. The have one credit card that gets loaded with the vacation expenses then they spend a year paying it off. They live in a crappy house in a declning neighborhood and have no savings.

That is nuts in my book but they have been married for 35 years and they think it is normal to live paycheck to paycheck.

I've heard most divorces are caused by arguments about money. Sounds like this couple are both on the same page, so they're good to go.

Unlike some of you guys, I have balls! My wife keeps them in a box in her underwear drawer and takes them out once in a while and lets me play with them.

Up until the day I was married, I was a dog on the run - now I am still a dog on the run but can't leave the yard.

My wife and I lived together for several years before we got married. 6 months after we started dating, as a matter of fact.

Try before you buy, I always say. ;) :D

In all seriousness, though, I know I'm not an easy guy to live with. Fortunately my wife is a saint.

One of the best lines ever in a movie. It also applies to real life!

I am jealous ;)

Marriage is a good institution for having kids. Being a good role model for your child/children is tough though.....so far so good!
Oh yes to answer your question - marriage definitely changed me and I would say for the better. 2nd marriage is way better than the first. No kids by the first. :)

Great line! May I borrow it?

well i just got married in august.... at the age of 39 she was 37 both never married we have been dating for a year to the date we got married. i knew from day one she will be my wife. i describe my relationship like snappers above. everything i lack she brings into the relationship and same for her.

Not getting married until 52, There is going to be a shock to the system for sure.

;)

Tell me about it. Life imitates art. I saw that movie with her shortly before we got married. When Nicholson came out with that line...well somehow everything was perfectly clear to me.

Addendum to my earlier response:

Added some weight and lots of gray hair.

I tease my wife that marriage causes grey hair. Neither of us had any grey when we were first married.

My wife had just graduated from HS when I met her. Playing tennis with the shortest shorts imaginable. And now 37 years later she still turns heads.

Great person and we read each others minds so often it is almost scary. I'm retired, she works because she actually likes her job, we travel anywhere we want and she let me take the 356 all over the country before deciding she likes it too. She has let me blow an amazing amount of money on the P-cars and never really questioned it.

We were lucky and fortunate to have a daughter and son that are doing well in the world and our Granddaughter is a clone of her mother which makes holidays a lot of fun. Grandson on the way in Feb.

I'm a lucky guy.

Oh My! :eek:
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