I have been married for 25 years, and I wouldn't take anything else. A guy promised to be committed to me--to love, honor, in sickness and health, and so on. He is wonderful. We have two wonderful offspring. And, yes, there are the legal benefits as well.

But don't ever get married just for the sake of it, if you don't want to. Those marriages tend to be miserable. Not all women do want to marry. I didn't get married until I was in my thirties--so I had a chance to establish a career, have my own identity, and live on my own.

I think not being married is better than being in a bad marriage with the wrong person. I can't imagine anything more miserable.