4 tips for a relationship of decades - and what everyone forgets along the way
Two couples who have lived together for more than six decades share the principles that have guided their relationship over the years: mutual respect, personal space, small gestures, and enjoying the journey are at the heart of the story.
In an era where relationships change quickly, there are those who prove that love can last a lifetime. Two couples living in 'Migdalei HaYam HaTichon' (Mediterranean Towers), who have lived together for more than six decades, share the principles that have guided their relationship over the years and tell what is truly important to maintain a good relationship.
1. Give each other space to develop
Moti (80) and Esther Golan have been married for over 60 years and live in 'Migdalei HaYam HaTichon' in Rehovot. They met as teenagers in the 'HaShomer HaTzair' movement, and their first kiss came after Moti warned Esther not to get close to the edge of a cliff during a night hike.
"She said I saved her life, so I asked for a kiss in return," he recalls with a smile.
According to him, the secret to a long relationship starts with mutual respect. "You need to support each other, appreciate, and allow each person to develop and continue learning. When there is genuine encouragement, everyone grows, but the relationship also grows along with them."
2. Live together, but don't suffocate each other
Margalit (89) and Amos (92) Dinor are celebrating seven decades of love. They met at the Aaronsohn House in Zichron Ya'akov. He arrived as a young student, and she worked there as a secretary and guide. He asked her to show him the colony, and from there the road to the chuppah was relatively short — only about a year and a half.
After 70 years of relationship, they still believe in the same simple rule:
"You need to live and let live. Each of us also engaged in things we loved, but we always had a common foundation. Even today, when we live in 'Migdalei HaYam HaTichon', we go to different activities during the day, and in the evening we always return to be together."
3. Don't stop investing in small gestures
You don't always need big gestures to keep the romance alive. In the Dinor family, for example, Amos made sure for years to bring Margalit flowers almost every week.
"We love nature and flowers, and these small gestures simply became part of our lives," says Margalit. From their perspective, daily attention, compliments, and small deeds are what maintain closeness over the years.
For Moti and Esther, too, the romance never disappeared. From his perspective, even after decades together, it is important to continue to enjoy each other and not take the connection for granted.
4. Don't forget to enjoy the journey
Both couples agree that life together is not just about dealing with challenges, but also a daily choice to enjoy the small moments. Trips, hobbies, shared conversations, and quality time have remained an integral part of their routine over the years.
"The secret is to always be in joy," concludes Moti. Margalit and Amos add with a smile: "We didn't look right or left. We found each other, and that was enough for us for a lifetime."
Perhaps there is no single formula for a perfect relationship, but if you ask couples who have already accumulated more than 130 years of love together, it seems that mutual respect, personal space, daily investment, and a lot of joy are an excellent base to start from.
