Hi Jeff, great to see you back.

Guys who are overly romantic scare me, they always seem a touch delusional, plus I worry that I'd never live up to their expectations as in the long term the rose coloured glasses always come off.

That being said, kind gestures, that come without the fanfare are always appreciated - a bunch of flowers, taking care of dinner, always lovely.

Friendship and fairness is all important. Be fair to each other - it doesn't matter who does what, in the union, as long as you both agree and support each other.

Don't have children, unless you are willing to have your lives overturned by really committing to their upbrining. It's a big challenge.

Most so called "love", is simply "lust". But, I agree, the word "love" is over-rated. Nothing wrong with lust, it's part of the union.

Valentines day is trash - every day is an opportunity to tell someone how much they mean to you. Not 1 day a year!

What amuses me is that people who get divorced decide to marry someone else. They have previously demonstrated that they lack judgement and should never be trusted to make a decision on another person ever again. Marriage is a once-only event; only the death of a spouse should be grounds for re-marrying.

Apparently love has the same chemical reaction as an overload of chocolate.Hence the love lorn diving into the Cadbury's every time an affair goes pear shaped.

I have attended a couple of Chinese weddings lately ....what a hoot! and yes Jeff, I do think in China it is often about striving together, or, more to the point, both partners chasing the almighty dollar (RMB). In China the parents still have a big say in who you can marry. However, it is starting to change a bit with the younger generation getting a bit more independence

I am an A grade cynic when it comes to the subject of love.

Your holiday does not seem to have improved your limited powers of reason Mr Corbett. You appear to want to differentiate between 'romantic' love & some other form of 'authentic' love yet completely fail to describe the difference. 'Love' may be an amorphous term but it is not in any way equivalent in meaning to 'appreciate'. Or is the real subtext of this article that you are just incapable of being in love with another person, Mr Corbett?

Did Mrs Corbett tell you how much she appreciates you at the breakfast table this morning Jeff ?

@moron - I would never consider remarrying. But having company and a friendship is quite acceptable.

I (personally) always considered marraige as a union to create a family and raise children etc. And hoped it was an "always" thing.

But that does not always work out, despite someone's best efforts. Sometimes one's sanity and the effort to protect the kids you love, become the preference to living a disturbed life.

I lasted 26 years. I gave it my best shot.

Having your own place and sharing time together, is a great idea.

Or is this just another plea for help, Mr Corbett?

Finally! I was worried you might have retired Jeff. What a good topic to start the year. I do think people expect too much from relationships and struggle to recognise the ever changing nature of love. Perhaps the problem is monogamy or expecting everything from 1 person. I think your right in identifying the difference between romantic love and long term relationships but it is different for everyone I suppose. Even tho romantic love may not be sustainable it certainly is great when your in it the trick is recreating it within the relationship because it certainly puts a spring in your step.

Welcome back Jeff!

St Valentine's Day is just a silly guilt trip that retailers and marketers use to make money. Imagine if someone was to meet another on 15 February and silly enough wait until 14 February of the following year to show their "love".

I would think only the naive would marry for romantic love alone. The person you fall in love with needs to be your friend as well.

Nice to see moron and Hank have been pining for your return!