Sharni I honestly don't care how others live their lives as long as it doesn't directly effect how I live mine. If you're happy then fine. I still find it contradictory when people say that a simple piece of paper doesn't mean anything when it obviously does. Because if it truly doesn't mean anything then what is the big deal about getting one?

You are right that an unmarried people (in the US at least), can get all the legal rights as married couples. That's if they are willing to get a lawyer and have him draw up all the contracts etc. and once you've done that it would have been cheaper just to go spend the $30 on a marriage license.

You and Bilbo are obviously committed to each other. Before I got married 11+ years ago I didn't understand the big deal either. I did it because I knew it was what my wife wanted, and it would make her happy. Today I love being married, it changed how I viewed our relationship, and it makes me happy to call her my wife. Even though just as you as far as the government was concerned we were already married. Common law marriage is a wonderful thing.

Lastly I'm not judging you. If you're happy, and you're raising your kids to the best of your ability then I couldn't care less what lifestyle you care to live. That doesn't preclude me from saying when I don't understand or necessarily agree with something.