Till death do us part? Many people choose to live in an unmarried partnership with that very same idea. Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed, and I might as well throw myself in that elite group too.
More and more people are choosing to not say “I do” and some for very different reasons. When Miss (not Mrs.) Robbins was asked why she hasn’t married her long-time partner, she stated, “When you are not married, I think it is not as easy to take each other for granted. Because when you say ’till death do us part,’ you don’t have to reaffirm your love for each other as often.”
Gene Simmons, on the other hand, has reasons that are slightly less poetic. “What happened to the alpha male?” he asked in a recent interview. He proceeded to say, “If you wanna marry her, say, ‘Ok, I wanna marry, but let’s talk about if we get divorced,’ because statistics say you will. So you must ask her the most important question, which is: If you want money, let me know how much. Let me make an educated decision.”
My reasons right now for choosing domestic partnership are likely a healthy mix of the two points of view. Mix in a sprinkle of Mr. Simmons fear of failure and a measure of Miss Sarandon’s romantic notion of constantly reaffirming love, and you have where I stand today.
I have chosen to be with my wonderful, romantic and sexy man after creating a written contract over chicken tenders at T.G.I. Fridays. The contract was simple – we agree to love each other and be good to each other – and it bears both of our signatures. That contract weighs more in my mind than any other legal document I’ve signed.
Regardless of whether you choose to marry, there’s great lessons to be learned from both celebrities. In any relationship, you must find ways to reaffirm your love for your partner. And you must find ways of honestly addressing any potential problems.
Super duper congratulations! However as Bill used to say…what are you “partners” in? Bridge?