How About Some Good News?

Puzzled

So lovely to read of all the happily marrieds, so sorry to read of the unhappy. There is so much sadness around.
This morning, a neighbour found their son dead in bed.
We lost our son at the same age, 30 years ago. It is impossible to be happy under those circumstances, but we have to make the best of things, if we are to survive.
Make the most of your happiness in whatever way that you can!

Yup still going strong after 44 years! Been amazed how well we have jogged along during lockdown with a bit of tolerance and patience and a lot of laughter. Wish he was a bit more sociable like me, but can't have it all and definitely wouldn't change him for a different model!

Do we all sound like a smug lot??

It is good to hear happiness stories in the midst of all the doom and gloom at the moment.

and to all the happy couples

Lemon
It wasn't any old toaster but a 6 slicer ?

Whitewave ‘My DH spent some time away in a course for work and proudly came home with a present for me.

It was a clown made of Papier-mâché . It was the ugliest thing I’d ever seen. It was such a relief when the new puppy chewed bits off it.’

?????

It has taken me almost 50 years to make my husband the man he is today.

I could write the op too! Except the knickers - I dont wear the sort he'd bring home!

Meryl...aren’t you the wealthy poster who once bought a new toaster??

We are a happy married couple too....50 years ( still amazes me.)The old adage of ‘give and take’ is a very true one.We make each other laugh, and snuggle on a sofa to watch tv.We have enough similar interests to keep us chatting, but also enough differences to do our own thing, go out and about etc.
The last ten years have been tremendously happy ones in spite of family sadnesses.

Witzend
I was once accused of flaunting my wealth by a poster. So now I'm very wary about revealing personnel information.

We've been married for 50 years. We get along quite well. Some of our interests are the same, some different. He is kind and tolerant. He still has good hair, is slim and fit at 74, none of which can be said for me!

Lucca

Re my post about signalling....in case it wasn’t obvious, this was tongue in cheek.

Good lucca I’m a bit dim at times.

My DH spent some time away in a course for work and proudly came home with a present for me.

It was a clown made of Papier-mâché . It was the ugliest thing I’d ever seen. It was such a relief when the new puppy chewed bits off it.

My OH and I have been together for over forty years. He's my best friend. We are like chalk and cheese and occasionally drive each other mad but generally make a lot of allowances for each other, respect our differences and have quite a lot of fun.

I'm the one with madcap schemes, he's the one who keeps all our feet (almost) on the ground. He used to buy me jewellery and pretty undies but after all these years he's come around to the fact that I would prefer a new orbital sander. In fact my Easter box was a new Dremel.

During lockdown we've had a Scrabble competition, playing every day.

I say well done to the OP for encouraging people to broadcast some of the nice things about our releationships.

To be honest I wouldn’t even have thought about ‘happiness signalling’ if not for a recent poster who was evidently uncomfortable with what she sees as ‘wealth signalling’.

Another happy marriage here, 46 years. We respect each other’s differences, laugh about mishaps, discuss things and don’t sweat the small things.
I probably drive him mad at times, whereas he’s perfect!

Ah, these posts about long relationships are so lovely to read.

It’ll be 48 years for us this year, though as Dh worked away from home for much of our married life, he reckons its only 24 years.

ps, my husband says he’s very happy with his knicker collection ?

Yes, very happy, been together since 16, and wouldn’t change him even though sometimes he drives me mad!

We haven't made it to 50 yet - a mere 45 years so far. We are both very content and do give each other little gifts at times, although it has never included knickers, pretty or not.

My husband is kind, tolerant and patient, all the things I am not. I try to remember this when I am screeching at him about his hoarding or other things which irritate me.

I'm more than happy with the one I've had for the past 45 yrs.
I could have written the OP although he's never bought me undies.
Though he hasn't much hair these days he's still slim, fit and looking good at 72.
I'm very happy.

Re my post about signalling....in case it wasn’t obvious, this was tongue in cheek.

OH FOR GOODNESS SAKE! VIRTUE SIGNALLING!
What on earth has gone wrong with us if people aren’t allowed to say they are happy with their partners. I’ve been a widow now for 19 months after 40 years of marriage, with its ups and downs, but I am delighted to hear happy stories from others. Doesn’t it make the whole world a nicer place to know that there is happiness and love still to be found? Good grief are we all to be squeezed into little boxes unable to say anything at all about anything in case we are judged to be boasting, racist, sexist or anything ist.
Keep your happy stories coming, I enjoy them even if it prompts a few tears from me. Enjoy your partners everyone.

By virtue of their posts on various topics I'd say there are many happily-married members on GN but they don't feel the need to make a specific announcement, when it's obvious!

I agree Witzend, it could easily be read as ‘signalling’ (which I learned about from the wealth signalling thread recently), if GNs are unhappy or facing challenges.

The wealth signalling thread made me think. We certainly aren’t wealthy but some of my posts might be read as if I’m signalling.

I applaud Puzzled for starting a good news thread, but it might be a bit challenging for some GNs.

My partner and I are happy together after 44 (not perfect) years and still say ‘I love you’, spontaneously to one another.

I dare say many GNers are reluctant to post about relatively happy relationships, for fear of coming across as smug, when it’s clear that other GNers are very unhappy about relationships with spouses/partners/children.