the origins of marriage have nothing to do with love or romance. they have to do with power preservation in autocratic societies. eventually de beers convinced everyone that diamonds are forever and the romance narrative proliferated. finding the right partner is paramount, but marriage is a separate conversation. it is not a natural human construct. one does not need validation from a government to confirm the validity of a relationship. hence it’s ironic that at a time that many are skeptical of big government, they still turn to that government to approve a relationship the government knows nothing about. it is the one decision where even the ardent rebels of society unknowingly seek societal approval. the right partnership is key, not marriage itself.