I believe what is or has been lost in decisions to marry is the feeling/attitude/thinking that the other person is someone to be valued very highly as a person aside from the initial passions of ‘love’. Through days of ups and downs and arguments it is this feeling/acknowledgement of value that nourishes true enduring love. I think about this after 57 years with a most wonderful and valuable person.
Congratulations! We have a few to catch up with you, but if we both manage to survive that long we'll make it. No one said it would be easy, but looking back on our life together through thick and thin, is something we are both content with and proud of.