What I Learned About Relationships After Being With My Wife For 8 Years

Today marks the day Mrs. Pirate and I have been married for 4 years, and have been a couple for 8. In that time, I've learned SO damn much about what it means to love and be loved. I've learned what an effective partnership is, and how to keep said relationship growing. So, I'd like to share some of that. For start, don't chase the "honeymoon phase". You're not gonna feel the way you did when you first started dating your partner. At the start, everything is new and exciting, and you're probably hot and heavy for one another. That's going to naturally fade away over time as you fall into familiarity and routine. Love is companionship, being happy in that person's presence. Love doesn't always look like 2 people jumping each other's bones all the time, it more often than not looks like 2 people sitting on a couch watching TV and holding each other's hand. Love is about being content with living a pretty boring life with that person. Get in with a couples counselor early when you start…