[Pablo64]

"Don't you guys think one can lead a moral and happy life by, say, having a series of maybe 20-50 consensual affairs starting whenever you start these days and 26, getting married at 28 (having lived with hubby for 2 years), having 2 or 3 kids in wedlock, having a rewarding career, being monogamous during marriage?"

You're free to try, but you should know that the formula you have described has statistically been shown to be one of failure. Many would disagree right off with your premise that having 20-50 "consensual affairs" is moral. Even that you used the term "affairs" to describe this should be a clue.

Also, there have been many studies that have shown that, contrary to conventional "wisdom", people who live together before marriage are more likely to divorce (not less) than those who do not. Not only is this bad for the couple involved, but what it does to any children that are the product of this marriage is horrible.

But, it's a free country, so knock yourself out.

[Linda Liberty]

I'm 45, and most of my friends are of like age.
I can't think of anybody I know who didn't live together
before marriage, and I can only think of two couples
I know well who are divorced. Also, the studies you cite
are careful not to confuse causality with correlation,
about which there is no data other than anecdotal.

[Between the Lines]

But, it's a free country, so knock yourself out.

Or knock yourself up as the case maybe.