# Can you envision yourself married for 150 years to the same person? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 16, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431 "2010-08-16T18:08:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/1 "2010-08-16T18:08:39Z")
Based on the discussion in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=574516), I wanted to do a poll to see where people stand. Assume that in the future, medicine and technology will make us live to 200. The aging process will happen later, so, for example, from age 20 to 160, we will feel like today’s 20 to 60 year olds. In the above scenario, can you envision yourself being married to the same person for 150 years? This is a poll. Wait for the poll to go up before responding. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/2 "2010-08-16T18:10:49Z")
This one, yes. The last one, no. Sorry, I can’t follow instructions, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Squooshed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Squooshed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squooshed)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/3 "2010-08-16T18:15:53Z")
I can’t see not being married to my wife whether it was 150 years or 1500 years. But I think we’re ridiculously lucky. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/4 "2010-08-16T18:59:45Z")
Sure, as long as it’s my husband. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/5 "2010-08-16T19:02:31Z")
Sure, but don’t ask **Ms. Attack**. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/6 "2010-08-16T19:03:46Z")
my boyfriend is not really big in to the marrying thing, but in the same vein, I could see us being together for 150 years. We have compatible enough lifestyle views to understand that being committed doesn’t mean being boring. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/7 "2010-08-16T19:04:00Z")
That’s a fun variation, predict the outcome of the poll. I went with #2, mainly because for me finding a SO is such a long and arduous and soul-grinding quest that I could hardly hope to go through it more than absolutely necessary. We would however take vacations from each other from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/8 "2010-08-16T19:12:12Z")
I can’t see _not_ being with my wife no matter how long we live. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/9 "2010-08-16T19:14:40Z")
Yeah, I’d jump at the chance to have another 100 years with my wife. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/10 "2010-08-16T19:40:45Z")
I picked the right one the first time. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/11 "2010-08-16T20:00:11Z")
As a Gay couple who have been together 30 years, we have remained together despite no real legal ties for most of that time. Nevada only recently allowed us to become “whatevers” by signing a document and paying $50. Considering everything we have been through, and still stayed together, I doubt there would be anything that could force us apart at this stage. Not saying we might not find a hot, young 134 year old to come live with us a few months in 2063, but other than that dalliance, I think it is safe to say we would celebrate our 150th together. Knowing him, he would still be bitching about who makes dinner than night (gruel or oatmeal?). ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/12 "2010-08-16T20:04:37Z")
Yes, if 150 years is all I can have. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/13 "2010-08-16T20:05:27Z")
pttth…I would spend thousands of years with my wife. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/14 "2010-08-16T20:11:29Z")
Interesting stats so far: [ul] [li]65% say they can envision themselves married to the same person for 150 years[/li][li]55% say they don’t think many others will be able to stay married to the same person for 150 years[/li][/ul] (A couple minutes ago it was 60% for both the above groups) So, the majority of people are pretty sure they can do it, but the majority of people doesn’t believe many others will. Is this indicative of a bias in the responses? (i.e. poll-responding bias, not any personal bias people may have) ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/15 "2010-08-16T20:14:19Z")
I would be ecstatic to spend 150 years with my husband. Nothing would make me happier. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/16 "2010-08-16T20:17:55Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > Interesting stats so far: > [ul] > [li]65% say they can envision themselves married to the same person for 150 years[/li][li]55% say they don’t think many others will be able to stay married to the same person for 150 years[/li][/ul] > (A couple minutes ago it was 60% for both the above groups) > > So, the majority of people are pretty sure they can do it, but the majority of people doesn’t believe many others will. > > Is this indicative of a bias in the responses? (i.e. poll-responding bias, not any personal bias people may have) ETA: If 65% of people can envision themselves married to the same person for 150 years, how does this explain the 50% divorce rate? If 65% are so happy together that they want to stay together forever, the percentage that is merely content enough to stay together for an existing lifespan of 70-80 years should be even higher. So how come half the marriages end in divorce? (Are Dopers particularly good at finding mates for life?) ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/17 "2010-08-16T20:36:40Z")
Well most folks who eventually get divorced don’t plan on getting divorced. Presumably there is at least some period of time in the marriage when they think it won’t happen to them. It’s not like 50% of all married people expect to get divorced at some point. Although _I’ll_ never get divorced. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/18 "2010-08-16T20:41:33Z")
You don’t have nearly a big enough sample for the results to be statistically significant yet. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/19 "2010-08-16T20:45:31Z")
We’ve been together a “mere” 22.75 years, and I can’t imagine anything changing, no matter how long. I can honestly say that our commitment to each other increases with time. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431/20 "2010-08-16T20:45:51Z")
Well, if 100% of the people who get married imagine themselves being married, how do you explain the 50% divorce rate? I’ve been married for 10 years, and it seems like I just got married. I can easily see myself with my wife forever. That doesn’t mean I’m going to succeed, because humans are mortal and fallible. So, since my current plan is to be with my wife as long as we both shall live, that includes wanting to be with her for 150 years. Maybe I’ll change my mind after 90 years, but here at 10 years I haven’t yet changed my mind. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-envision-yourself-married-for-150-years-to-the-same-person/550431.md?page=2)