When is a relationship long-term?

[Twalli]

When do you consider your relationship to be long-term?

Updates

+1 y

I can't select all the ones I've liked as MHO, so I'll just say I liked the ones that didn't give the time period the best. As well as @jennifer_bloom for giving the scientific answer for what long-term is.

[IveGotNoName]

Meeting the family is definitely an important step, and talking about the future is also essential before you are truly in a long-term relationship.

However, many teenagers reach these steps within a couple of months or so without actually being long-term, so I'd say it also really depends on the age of the couple. People dating in their thirties are more serious about dating. My older brother (who is in his thirties) proposed after a couple of months and they are happily married with a kid. My sister however was in a 2 year relationship from 17-19 and they had reached all the "milestones" of a serious relationship, but they broke up like it meant nothing.

In conclusion: there are certain milestones that must be reached before considering yourself to be in a long-term relationship, however age is important as to how long a relationship has to have been for it to be long-term.

[jennifer_bloom]

My scientist friend describes long term as anything over 12 months - whether its long term medication, long term relationship, long term employment etc...

[Mr_Potatoman]

For me the term "long-term" is defined not by a time period but by what is going on in your relationship.
Meeting family and talking seriously about possibility of marriage and kids is what makes your relationship "long-term".
I've been with my girlfriend a year and a few months before she bacame my wife. We clicked very well on our first date and especially on our subsequent dates. We started talking about marriage and kids after dating for about a month. We now live happily together with a beautiful baby girl.
I know that for some my path seems rushed, but when you know you know. I felt like I knew her for 5 years before making it official with rings on our fingers.

[Jamie05rhs]

I gave you a like just because 2 other people downvoted you and I thought that was wrong and I wanted to give you some encouragement to balance it out.

[Guy13]

6 months after meeting family and attending family affairs

[Twalli]

What if you're estranged from family or live in a different country?

[Guy13]

That’s usually not a good formula for success. She’s lived with Family the whole of her life. That’s going to cause issues.

[Twalli]

A friend of mine moved to Costa Rica for a few years after college. None of his girlfriends there met his family. He moved back up here aft err selling his bar.

[Guy13]

There you go.., sounds like a good ride though. Clearly, Costa Rica past is not sustainable

[TenderFantasy]

Wow how are you only 29 and have so much relationship knowledge already wow.

[Guy13]

@TenderFantasy I was forced to grow up. At 11, was my first shoot… round lots of women etc.

[kylee2437]

Out of the honey moon stage so about 2 years

[Twalli]

What if the honeymoon stage isn't ending?

[kylee2437]

The honey moon stage does end lol which is why if it seems like it has continued, then it is meant to be, that means both people haven’t stopped giving in the relationship but scientists have said a relationship that hasn’t worked beyond the year and a half point is because one of the two has stopped giving

[Twalli]

So you're saying that since my girlfriend and I haven't exited the honeymoon stage after 4.5 years, we're essentially soul mates?

[kylee2437]

Could be. 4.5 years is a lengthy time to spend with someone to not consider them your soul mate

[Twalli]

I didn't consider it in the beginning, but I mean who does? I figured that, like most relationships, we'd eventually break up. Well over 99% of relationships fail, so I didn't expect this one to succeed. I find it so weird when people are so sure their relationship will work at the start, seemingly ignoring their past relationships or that the vast majority fail.

[kylee2437]

Shouldn’t positive thinking go into relationships though? If you think it’s going to fail, what’s the point of being in it?

[Twalli]

Because it might not. I do want to get married eventually and I can't do that without dating

[kylee2437]

It may not, but having an open mind to it working will probably more likely make it work longer?

[Twalli]

I want it to work, I am just not expecting it

[bean2k21]

You can really put a time on it - it could happen in a second, that she falls to her knees and says "I love you, Master. You are my salvation and I want to project my orgasms into your cosmic realm and live forever with you and your slaves." And then you're like, wow your grasp of telepathy is really great because I just heard all of that while you had a ball gag in your mouth.

[Orion76]

I think all relationships are long term I mean when you enter one in good faith do people actually set down and decide a time in which this relationship is in effect? If so it’s kinda cold kind of creepy.

[Orion76]

Nobody else thinks it’s kind of strange to set a time frame? When it’s up what you guys do? Month to month kinda deal😅

[Random_g]

When I see my name next to his in family register

[NathanDavis]

for me, that would mean marriage, decades...

[Belgie]

A year and a day. You've seen all seasons and all holidays and birthdays.

[Thepumpkinhead]

Long term relationship for me is when they are at 3 years

[RobT312]

A year…. Monogamy, family meetings, integrated life

[Jamie05rhs]

For me, life is the only term that I will accept.

But for others, I would consider them "long-term" if they have been together for 10 years or more.

[JosyJosy]

When I say this isn't just for hooking up and mister things the same way.

[CuriousMufuxka]

When your bathroom has feminine hygiene products lying around.

[Twalli]

My sister and I shared a bathroom when we were in highschool.

[CuriousMufuxka]

YOUR bathroom. You do have your own place right?

[Twalli]

Not in my name, but half of the lower level of my parents house is mine. I bought everything in here and am responsible for keeping it clean. I don't remember to eat without being reminded so thr court decided I can't live alone.

[CuriousMufuxka]

Sounds like a long term relationship right there!

[Twalli]

People say I am in one with my girlfriend at 4.5 years, and I do have some of her stuff in my bathroom (a toothbrush for one), but I don't see another person sharing your bathroom as a relationship.

[CuriousMufuxka]

Right.. Yet you mention your sister first!

[Twalli]

Because she's 18 months younger than me. We grew up together.

[poneglyphs]

I think if it last longer than a year 🤔🤔🤔

[collie22]

I think when you get to know your SO's family it's going on 😍

[LiamJHayden]

For me if we get past six weeks official it is long term.

[jackieistired]

I think long term is like 6-1 year and saying I love you

[Naiomiiiii]

For me it's a relationship that surpassed the honeymoon phase and still ongoing

[DizzyDesii]

Longterm is anything last the 6 month mark

[DizzyDesii]

*past

[DizzyDesii]

So many people say when you meet family but i introduce people to my fam when theyre still in the friend stage. So i def dont consider that

[melanieeeB]

I would say two years?

[Haha456]

2 years and onwards

[Apple1996]

2 years

[exitseven]

year or longer.

[boobliker]

when it is longer than any you have had before

[Twalli]

Well at day 1 it was longer, unless you count the one with my hand which is still ongoing

[boobliker]

at 31Ys I would have hoped you would have had more than a one-night stand so it that case 2 to 3 months then.

[Twalli]

Never even had a date before I was 27. I'm still with her

[TJ1892]

Anything over 6-8 months.

[DiegoO]

When it survives beyond a year.

[Luopio27]

Anything over a year.

[Filthy_Immigrant]

one word, NEVER

[LemiaOfThunder]

Anything between 2 years.

[Alicebianca]

Can be friends that will lead to relationship

[Biancam13]

Over 3 years

[rosemilk]

2+ years

[Minahh]

Like 5 years

[In_Trance]

3-5 years and beyond

[jimmy2]

In marriage