Just the ticket: 49 per cent say they would choose falling in love over winning the lottery

A study of 2000 over 50’s by Retirementmove explored the real extent of ‘for better for worse’. What was unveiled were 50 signs of real love such as building a home together or not being afraid to show weakness

Researchers delved into the intricacies of a successful relationship to unearth the 50 most common responses to the question ‘what is love?’. According to those surveyed, love is holding hands into old age, laughing at things you don’t find funny and knowing when to bite your tongue. Results also showed that home really is where the heart is.

 

When quizzed on their best ever memories with their partner, Brits were most likely to cite ‘just being at home with them’. While kissing at least 14 times a week was critical to keeping the fire burning.

 

Results showed that just saying ‘I love you’ at least nine times a week was also integral to long term happiness. Encouraging silliness in one another, learning to get along with the in-laws and avoiding jealousy when the other person spends time with the opposite sex were also deemed key factors to cementing a long-lasting love.

 

The research, which was commissioned by Retirementmove found that love blossoms four and a half months into a new relationship. But only nine per cent believed in a love that could strike instantly or at first sight. However there is optimism, just under half of those polled went as far as to say they believed in the concept of ‘the one’ when it comes to romance.

 

Yesterday Richard Drew CEO of Retirementmove said: “The list of what it takes to make love last covers a range of warm, quirky and honest pearls of wisdom from people who have really experienced love in all its forms.”

 

“What the data reveals is that the warmest bonds and most valued memories aren’t necessarily always the big standout things like exciting holidays or calendar moments, but actually in the living and enjoying of one another day to day. Building a home together proved a central concept to long-lasting love and shows that so much of the way we think about love comes from that sense of feeling at home and belonging to a place.”

 

Other results found in the research

 

• Strikingly, 49 per cent of Brits said they would choose falling in love over winning the lottery. However, more than a quarter (29 per cent) would rather take the cash than fall in love!
• One in six people proposed to their partner in the living room.
• Nearly a quarter of those retired said the best thing about not having to work was getting spend quality time with the person they loved.
• While two thirds thought love definitely gets stronger with age, just one in 12 per cent thought otherwise.

An infographic of the top results

 

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