I've been with my partner for 12 years, and we've never felt the need to get legally married. We've built a life together, bought a house, and raised a dog, but without the government's stamp. Honestly, I think marriage sometimes creates this false sense of security—people stay in unhappy relationships just because they signed a contract. But I've seen friends who got married and say it deepened their commitment in ways they never imagined. So, is marriage really necessary for long-term love, or is it just a societal checkbox?