For people in happy stable ltr how easy was it from begining?

[Catzeyess]

If you are in a stable happy ltr was it always easy and happy from the begining with only minor hiccups or did you go through rough periods but have come out the other side to have a happy stable relationship?

Second question how many relationship problems do you think come from being with an incompatible person and how many from external influences such as upbringing/bullying etc which could be improved upon counselling?

For full disclosure:
Was having a chat with some friends in pub and was surprised at one person who said there relationship was really easy from begining no issues ever. My personal experience is happy easy ltr relationship but took a lot of arguments in the begining to really understand each other and communicate properly, I have a very dysfunctional family when it comes to healthy communication and had to learn it almost all from scratch.

Yes, it's always been easy and we've been together for eight years. i could count the number of arguments we have had on one hand.

I've had three other long term relationships which did not run smoothly for one reason or another. I think it depends on the two individuals concerned.

I wouldn't waste time on a difficult relationship now. Some things just aren't meant to be.

Relatively easy from the start. However I lay down the ground rules (well, poured my heart out to him as had been messed about and hurt and had become very independant.

We did nearly break up once. On a day day basis everything is great, when baby arrived it threw everything in the air again but well settled and sorted now

I am of the opinion that the start of a relationship is probably as good as it will get so if it's bloody hard work to begin with that is the path the relationship will take?

I despair of people talking about "new" partners and how difficult things are, sorry but it just makes think if it's this hard whilst you are in the honeymoon / sex haze when things are all shiny and new how the Hell is it going to be when you make a proper commitment?

For us it started easy, we moved in together very quickly though and have had to work through some stiff over the years. Mainly work / money related but had some proper hardcore stuff going on when our DS was born which we have all but fixed.

Those early days though still make me smile when I think back and I know whatever happens that I was completely and insanely madly in love with my OH. It's a different love now but there was no settling or making do.

From the word go, my relationship with DH felt incredibly right in the sense that he "got" me like no one else ever had - we bounced off each others' sense of humour, loved to share creative ideas, plenty of chemistry and trust, etc...

However, 8 months into our relationship, after a series of rows we split up. The relationship was moving out of the "dating" stage and I was beginning to think seriously about our future, whereas despite us being the same age, he was at somewhat of a different life stage to me, having never lived with / committed to a long term future with anyone before.

It caused tension, but the month we spent apart was heartwrrenching and made me realise I'd never felt so strongly about anyone in my life and we were so compatible is so many ways I wanted to do everything I could to work through our issues.

We got back together and he stepped up to the mark. We moved in together after 18 months, he proposed just before our 3 year anniversary and are getting married next October. Our relationship is incredibly happy and stable and I honestly can't remember the last time we clashed. The issues which caused hiccups early on were most definitely down to external influences not our fundamental compatibility and I'm forever grateful we worked through them.