Food For Thought

"Initial attraction butterflies rarely survive past the two-year mark of a couple's relationship.

Initial attraction butterflies are what often cover up an area of fundamental incompatibility. So, people swept up in the floaty in-love feeling often make the mistake of thinking it's true love when it's just adrenaline/pheromones, and then they find themselves married to/living with someone who isn't that scintillating to talk to, who doesn't help much, and who isn't even that great in bed any more.

So I advise people who feel passionately in love to hold off on any big decisions until they've been together a couple of years. That's when familiarity takes over and their relationship's natural, sustainable pace will become apparent.

Real love doesn't die at this point, it gets stronger--so that's actually a better, more accessible measure: If you hit the two-year mark and then spend the following year getting even closer, then that's a promising sign. If you spend that third year struggling and/or drifting apart, then that may be a sign not to build your future on this one."

--Carolyn Hax