Does a long-term relationship really need the spark of novelty, or is steady companionship enough? My partner and I have been together for eight years, and lately I catch myself wondering if the comfortable routine we've built is actually fulfilling or just easy. We tried a weekend cooking class last month and it felt oddly like a first date again — nervous, clumsy, fun. But sustaining that level of effort takes energy I don't always have after work. Can a marriage thrive on calm predictability alone, or does it slowly wither without regular injections of new experiences together?