I am not a piece of paper girl. For me, marriage represented a security that was nice to have but primarily created a structure for raising children - home and family. The division of labor we created was such that he provided the majority of the financial support and with my age and work history, now, I could never catch up, so obtaining my own independently supported hoarder friendly home is not an option (I think he would choose me to keep the farm and he get a condo in the city). Also, I'm used to living with him and I like it - Most the time.

However, if I were financially independent, accustomed to living alone, and had my own house, I would be unwilling to share my space, complicate my finances, and compromise my independence, for what? What would I get out of marriage and a shared home that I couldn't have without those things? Single women live longer.