Fifty years is a long time to be married. There is much to celebrate, dear partner of mine. We are still among the living and we still have fun together. Maybe not every hour of the day, but often enough.

Did we settle? Have we stayed together because there was no better option easily on offer?

Someone complained that online dating sites have reduced dating to the equivalent of online shopping. You go on dates with several people just for the fun of it, or to see if the two of you would be a good fit. The returns are easy if the fun passes or the fit isn’t comfortable anymore. There is such an abundance of options that you end up living in fear that you will miss the best deal of them all if you don’t continue browsing through the alternatives.

I have no fear that I have missed out on a better deal. You, my dearest, are like my long-coveted, irreplaceable Prada bag. Timeless in your charm and design, just the right look and size for me, and ready to carry all my stuff – the occasional garbage included.

The Prada comparison is not without its pitfalls. You might feel the need to remind me that my Prada bag is not the only bag I have acquired during the years. My love of change has manifested itself in many areas; be it living accommodations, jobs, travel and, last but not least, clothing and accessories thereto.

You have been the one constant throughout all these changes, however. For better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. We have been through it all together.

I can se where the Ok Boomers movement is coming from in our case. All things considered, we have sailed through life comparatively easily.

We have lived in an area that hasn’t seen war during our lifetime; in a democracy with a free press; in a time and place that allowed us to enjoy economic growth, good health care, and increasing equality both in terms of education, job opportunities and social security. In addition, we have been blessed with a great family and supportive friends and relatives.

Each generation has its own set of justifiable fears. In our youth, we feared the occurrence of a nuclear catastrophe; either in the form of a nuclear war or a nuclear power plant malfunction.

Instead our son enjoyed clean air and clear waters.

Today we fear the effects of climate change on our grandchildren.

Will the next generation fear the loss of freedom of thought and movement as we continue to erode all privacy by making everything recognisable and trackable?

We rebelled, as young people do. Our beliefs were different from those of our parents. The same is true for the generations that have followed ours. Our parents did their best and were confused when we wanted to walk down a path that was different from theirs. We were going to change the world – and maybe we did in some minuscule way – but the world changed us too. It happens to every generation.

Our love has had its ups and downs during these years. The end result is like an uncut diamond. It may not always look like much to the outsider, but it is solid and sparkling underneath. It has nothing to do with loving the idea of love or cherishing the idea of a perfect husband. Love is in the details.

I love you as you are; even the grumpy, old, “I’m not going to do that, I hate it when plans change, this is crazy” you. The man that still experiments tirelessly to create the ultimate morning porridge for me.

My main goals going forward are to do so with you, and to remain a nice old lady. Aggressions may abound around us, but let’s try to keep the nasty to a minimum ourselves. Sadly this is not something we can fully control. With age come ailments and some of them may affect our very nature.

But that day is not yet upon us. Tomorrow we set off on a new adventure: our 50th wedding anniversary trip. Happy Anniversary in advance!

Thanks for traveling by my side all these years.