[summer]

In other words, it was the commitment of marriage that made them successful. Waiting for success before marriage was the exact wrong way to reach the goal line.

I think that was the philosophy of another era, like my parents' generation, and I think that is a good philosophy. But, I do think there was a movement to get away from that in more recent decades -- though it may now be slowly starting to swing back that way for younger people today.

[neb52]

"though it may now be slowly starting to swing back that way for younger people today."

Actually like me and most 20 something men we want to be successful before marraige, just to ensure that we can at least wear one leg of the preverbal "pants in this family". Finding an American women today that wants to share or be a parnter in a relationship is really tough.