Roger:

I agree that in the course of a (serious) romantic relationship, the issue of commitment, however the participants define it, plays a central role. Finding a soul-mate, it seems to me, is the name of the game. The ever-present questions "Is he the one?", "Is she the one?" underlie much of courtship communication between the sexes.

I presume that after marriage this question is more-or-less settled and that the man and woman can, as you suggest, relax. What new problems arise? In what ways do gender differences impede or complicate communication after the pre-marriage stresses are removed?

I have never been married. I would love to hear what other married members of the group have to say on this subject!