I recently got back together with my ex from 15 years ago. Back then, we travelled together and lived together abroad, but when we got home it felt like the spark was gone, so we split up, but we've always remained friends. Plus I wanted kids and he didn't. In the interim period, while looking for someone better to have kids with, I had several relationships, none of which were very successful. I never had kids and now I'm too old, and that's OK with me.
In the meantime he had several relationships too, none of which worked out. So two years ago we got back together. We care for each other very much, and don't want to be with anyone else. But I am struggling. I have never had a relationship last longer than two years. Now when it gets tricky, when I have negative feelings about his untidiness, his forgetfulness, or his family, or I just don't want to see him that day, I feel awful and guilty and don't say anything. In the past when a relationship's got tricky I've just left. How do you maintain a relationship long term?