Just as an aside, "practically married" is very very different from "married." People who say that marriage is just a piece of paper.... I say to them, "THEN JUST GET MARRIED!" It is a huge legal and financial and emotional commitment. Whether you choose to do it or not is up to you and whether you think it's worth it or not is also up to you, but long term cohabiting people who think it's that same as marriage are mistaken. That piece of paper is worth (or can cost you) a lot.
Not to derail the topic, but that's all mostly hogwash.
First of all, I never said it was just a piece of paper. It;s a government-regulated relationship contract that can't be enacted the way you want (even signed pre-nups get disregarded all the time).
My relationships are not something I'm interested in having the government issue me a 'license" for. fuck that.
I already have the commitment, and I don't have to go to the courthouse to prove it to you or anyone else.
And as for all the supposed tax benefits, yeah real romantic, I think I'll pass.
I Also never said a long-term cohabitating monogamous couple is the same as marriage. It isn't, and that's why I'm not getting married. it SHOULD be the same. What exactly should be different about it?
The only people for whom that 'piece of paper' is 'worth a lot' are: women who want a big ceremony, people after tax breaks, or people who need external validation for their otherwise identical relationship to feel 'real'