Wow! Happy Married life to Mr. and Mrs. Bunnypuncher. 21 years is not a joke. I wish You many more years to come and in good health and happiness. I told my husband just last week that I am only going to celebrate our wedding anniversary when we clock 10 years and 20 years afterward.

Marriage is a sweet and wonderful bond for those that are married and married the right partner can testify to it. Marriage is not an outdated concept but the views of individual depend on the orientation.
People get married for different reasons but when you are committed to a person, you are fulfilling the law of nature and creation when recreating. As a Christian, marriage is honorable and even in the society 9it depend on what kind of society you are). When people hear that you are married, there is a kind of respect that is attached to it.

The piece of paper doesn't really mean anything as people get divorce easily for the benefits in it. In a nutshell, Commitment to marriage is the best, commitment without marriage cannot become a full commitment. in fact, either of the partner or both will later want a marriage or separate.

My advice will be don't go into marriage for a certain benefit. what if the benefit did not come? Rather go for love and commitment then when the benefit comes, it will be a bonus. If the marriage is not going right and you have a child(ren) why not stay for the child(ren) and make things work because of the psychological effect it might cause for the child(ren). Seek for help in every area you think you can get help and be open minded for changes.

Life is sweet but it's sweeter when you are married to your life partner!*