Ironwings I didn't get married to my Old Grump because of ANY pressure. Hell, it's hard for a 39 y/o single mother of four to feel pressured about much except paying the rent and making sure her kids are ok.
My Old Grump was simply the first man who asked me to marry him where I didn't feel like I couldn't breathe at the very notion of it. I was VERY turned off to the idea of legal commitment only because it was so damned hard to get un-entangled from the first one. WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!!
When my husband asked me to do him the honor of being his wife, it wasn't about being old-fashioned. Hell, I doinked him within hours of meeting him for the first time in the flesh! LOL It was more of him telling me that no matter how screwed up my life was (because of my ex and my health issues) that he wanted more than anything to stand by me and support me and be kind to me and be my BEST FRIEND... no matter what.
To this day everytime we drink a toast he always says, "Here's to my wife, the love and light of my life." ...and he means that.
He is an amazing man and human being and the fact that he chose ME to marry... that is what it is all about, not the piece of paper.
I am wife number SIX for him... so I guess you might say that this makes it "not so special"... but that is far from the case as he states with his words and his actions that I am the only woman he has ever loved. He has fought harder for ME and MY GIRLS then sometimes I have. I have given up on myself and us so many times. I never strayed - EVER. I am faithful and loyal to the bitter end. But mentally I have checked out so many times and that is when he has carried me and fought harder - enough for the both of us.
If you are feeling pressure to marry then don't do it. You will regret it because it is coming from the outside and working its way in. Happiness should come from within and work its way outward and so should the desire to marry.
You are a very sweet and wise woman and if I haven't had the opportunity to tell you yet, I am happy that you are here, sharing on elite.