7 years next month. Quite happy, and I’m not just saying that because my wife is a sometimes-former-Doper.
Good results so far. Now how many of you are lying? 
Either this poll is only inviting to a select sample of people or people are lying to themselves or others. I have no idea what the proportion is but both are likely the case. The numbers simply don’t match up with reality. About half of the current marriages will end in divorce and, of those that are left, half or much more of those will stay married for whatever reason but at least one partner will be chronically unhappy. The odds aren’t good overall but this poll claims otherwise. I don’t buy it for a second unless only the most outstanding set of husbands and wives in the world are the ones answering the poll.
I personally only have had good evidence of two long-lasting good marriages in my entire life and even they may just be unusually good actors. I have seen countless cases of ‘happy marriages’ that were simply a cover for something else whether it is chronic infidelity, financial irresponsibility, drug use or even criminal behavior. We have had plenty of supposedly happy Dopers over the years whose own situation went from Ozzie and Harriet to ‘flee the state’ and get a quick divorce in the blink of an eye.
Forgive my skepticism. I can’t say that any individual person is lying when they claim that they have a happy long-term marriage because I believe it can exist in some cases but I know that some people are distorting the truth beyond recognition when most people claim that most of them do collectively. The real-world results do not support such claims.
One year. And I love her more than ever. We are not happy that we have to see each other once a year. Immigration wants more evidence of a bona fide marriage, that includes (although it is not 100% needed) having a child.
Happy to work on that. 
But the costs are killing me.
**
It is worth it.**
I do not see a problem with that, I think that in this thread anyone seeing the title will be more willing to respond if indeed they are in a happy situation, although in my case I have to say that a month from now I would vote for the unhappy column. (Distance and dealing with INS and Student loans can make it so… the things we do for love…)
I see I’m the only person married 5-10 years and not happy. A little surprised about that.
If it makes you feel any better, I was once one and I know plenty of others (most probably trending to almost all men by year 15 or so). An amicable divorce is sometimes the best thing to happen to a man (I can’t speak for women). I would never consider such a thing again because I think it is a ridiculous institution built on a stack of lies and impossible assumptions.
I got kids that I wanted out of it - purpose served and I would never regret it for that alone but I am not one to blindly follow traditions and roles that were made up thousands of years ago based on completely different circumstances. I had no interest in continuing an antiquated model that is built to serve women yet paradoxically seems to destroy them slowly but insidiously too until all involved are just roll-players rather than real people.
Others will tell you lots of advice on what you need to do to keep a marriage together but almost none will articulate why you should be doing it in the first place because they don’t understand why either unless it involves bringing up children in a stable home. After that, the disadvantages tend to become much more strong that the advantages and spouses tend to resort to lying and cheating (not just sexual by any stretch) to fulfill their own needs that they once had but don’t anymore because they are legally shackled like a felon on parole.
Been married 36 years and not happy. I’m in for the long haul but if my husband were to leave, it’d be a massive weight off my shoulders. I think I can confidently say I would never be in another relationship again.
26.5 years, and couldn’t be happier.
Some time SOON we’ll be allowed to get married.
I’ve been married for 21 years this past 5th and I’m more often happy than not. I respect the hell out of the man, he’s seriously funny, talented, sweet, intelligent, kind and the list goes on. He’s literally the best friend I’ve ever had. But due to his illness(es), we have one very difficult hurdle that makes getting all the way to 100% content not seemingly possible. I hate that, we’ve worked to change it, but it is what it is. And there’s no way I’d want to be without him just to get around that… he’s everything and a bag of chips. So, put me down for 90 / 10 most the time and that’s swell enough.
We’ve been together almost 30 years and married for six. I never expected to marry again after my first two-year effort ended with me feeling very much like Shagnasty does about the institution (hah). However, I was won over when my husband romantically proposed by telling me that if we got married so that I could be on his insurance we could afford to retire. I said yes, very quickly, and have never regretted it. I would have stayed with him until death without the license and see no reason not to do so with it.
We’re getting legally married (as opposed to remaining Handfasted-but-not-legal) because he’s got chronic health conditions, is my father’s age, and getting married is the easiest way to make me his Power of Attorney for Healthcare in a way that’s unlikely to be challenged in court by his ex-wife or son. And also 'cause I will really need his Social Security spousal benefit if he dies anytime soon.
Sounds horribly practical and unromantic, I know, but there it is.
Well, okay, it’s a little romantic, on his part, because he really wants me to be his “wife” and share his name and blah blah blah. He’s the romantic in the relationship. To me, that stuff isn’t really important. But getting to visit him in the ICU, communicate his end-of-life decisions without arguing in front of a judge and being able to afford the rent in the home we’ve built together…those are important to me.
Married 14 years and very happy, my wife is my best friend.
A year in and very happy. My husband is awesome.
Seven years, 10 days. Happy.
My wife and I have been married for 23 years, and together for nearly 26. I love her more than ever.
It is 24 years this past month. I’m sure Ms DrumBum could have done better than me but I caught her at a weak moment.
(1) There is indeed a good deal of self-selection going on. Asking a question like this isn’t the same as a scientifically sampled poll.
(2) Dopers in general probably are less likely than the general population to be people who stick out unhappy marriages long-term. For example, many who stick out unhappy marriages do so for essentially religious reasons or for the kiddies, and Dopers are, I believe, less likely to be religious or have kids than the average.
(3) You are making a mistake I see repeated commonly - assuming that a marriage that ends in divorce was always unhappy. That simply is not true. People change.
Yup, since 14 FEB 1991 and we are very happy.
But can I still have orange sherbert? Though I am also fond of cheesecake …
Hands aruvqan a flame shield
You’re going to need that after that superfluous r you stuck near the end of the word sherbet.