Relationship Rubric

How do you know when you've found someone with whom to make a life? If you both argue a lot does that mean you are not meant for each other or that neither of you are 'relationship material'? What kind of conflicts are serious and what kinds are petty and ordinary? How much of the 'love myth' is just myth and how much is possible? Is lifelong partnership possible without children and enormous sacrifice or does a childless relationship easily devolve into a partnership in misery?

I suppose purpose is the primary ingredient. If the relationship doesn't have a clear powerful purpose underneath the normal day to day imperfections, then the imperfections become everything. Perhaps without a noble purpose intimate relationships have little hope of flourishing and maintaining equilibrium. But then maybe people have just forgotten how to have committed relationships in this age of short attention spans and fickle tastes.   {LoL}