So how did you know 'the one' was 'the one' ?

Absolutely Not too old. Your second paragraph is exactly what I think and I was lucky that it turned out so well. I can't imagine being married to anyone else now!

How lovely! I've just read this thread and it occurred to me that each of these stories could be turned into a book. The one I enjoyed most was the old man (presumably then a young man) telling of walking all those miles in war time to see his girlfriend just for 20 minutes and later burning her letters. It wasn't clear from the poster's (MargaretX?) story if they eventually married and he was only burning the letters after they had had a long and happy life together. I do hope so.

I'm not sure if we do actually know when 'the one' turns up. Don't most of us take a bit of a chance and hope for the best? My DH has definitely turned out to be the one, I'm happy to say. Ah, bless, what a romantic afternoon this is turning out to be.

Just knew. Wobbly insides..couldn't stop thinking about him...still adore him after nearly 40 years

We were comfortable and at ease with each other from the start; always knew that we could do and say anything without shame or embarrassment. We have our fights but, always, all is forgiven and 44 years on and he's still my best friend.

He told me he was 'the one'. I hadn't thought about it till then as I was very happy being friends, but more than forty years later it seems he was right!

You 'click' with the right person - you just know. You get on like a house on fire - and could talk forever and lose track of time. You have so much in common that they're like an extension of you - like two peas in a pod and because of that your relationship is calm and you don't have to 'work' at it.
Some may find that boring (perhaps preferring the 'excitement of fighting and making up - that wasn't for us) but we were never bored with each other.

When we first met I didn't like him at all, and only agreed to go out with him, because I didn't have the heart to say no! He had gone through a bad divorce and was quite a sad person. However, I went on a second date and found how relaxed and kind he was even though he had been hurt badly. What did it for me was the way he looked after my dad when he was dying from cancer....he did everything he could possibly do for him and more. I knew then that his initial kindness was who he was. To this day, twenty five years later, although we have our ups and downs at the heart of it, his kindness always shows through. He supports 110% me when it comes to his children shunning me which they often do. His kindness and intelligence are the two main elements for me.

What a lovely story. Truly. Reminds me true love is there x

We finally met up on a Monday. Two weeks later I was diagnosed with breast cancer and two weeks after that went in for the operation. Although he worked 50 miles away from the hospital he came to visit every evening and then had another 40 mile journey to get home. Two weeks later he was there for me when my Dad died. So I really did think I had found someone special. Plus although he had never wanted children he took on my 4 and was more of a Dad to them than my ex.

Our eyes met across a crowded dance floor and we knew. Fortunately it turned out that we had a lot in common and masses to talk about.

Sorry to disagree but Was really quite unsure if he was the one! We certainly loved each other and I was ready to get married and settle down and so was he but there was no magic moment of certainty. I had no idea what I was doing! But we are still together nearly 50 years later and he is definitely my rock, so I suppose I was lucky!

Met him at 16 while still at school. Married at 23 and still with him through so many trials and tribulations, his cancer at the moment my iill health 43 years later. When he smiles my stomach still does a flip.x

Like you, Hildgard
After the trials of first husband, he was, and still is, so kind.
He took me on and my 3 young children, who all still love him TG.
That was nearly 40 years ago.

I walked into a room and saw him and just knew I wanted to be with him he turned and smiled as if he knew too. We are still together and often know what the other is thinking

When I realised that we were having a conversation about getting married on our first date - and it seemed perfectly right. (We married 8 months later, and that was 43 years ago).

No. 1. Brought me back to his place after our first (daytime) date; invited me to sit on the sofa; then made coffee and asked if I would mind him getting on with the ironing while he talked to me.
This was before the concept of equality and the influence of Germaine Greer, Marilyn French et al. had yet to be felt by most women.
We were together for 25 years and are still on speaking terms.

No. 2. When I realised for certain that this was a person whose feelings for me I could trust and who would always be on my side no matter what.

I met 'the one', I thought - I was wrong big time! The man I was courting turned into something else when we married, not for the better! Got out after 11 yrs of hell. Went on to marry the ' right one'. ?

I met my (3rd) DH on a "blind date", I was staying with an old College friend & her H in Twickenham, I lived in Lancashire. My friend organised a babysitter for my DD (aged 8) & we went to a nearby British Legion club, a friend of her H came along, he was newly divorced, I had been divorced nearly 3 years. Love at first sight, we spent the weekend together before I returned home, 250 miles away. I went down for a few weekends & he came to spend a week with me before after 3 months I moved to be with him taking my DD. We had almost 23 years together, 21 married before he sadly died. Definitely the "love of my life" as my DD described him at his funeral, a wonderful kind, caring & loving man.

How lucky you all are ?
It hasn't happened for me... thinking it probably won't now.

Hildagard, so glad for you.

My husband is the kind, gentlest man I have ever know I didn't think I could ever love or trust again after first marriage , years of dv

Our first "date". He had invited me to his sister's 50th birthday party. I drove to his house as it was nearer to London, getting very lost on the way. When I arrived he said he needed a new shirt and trousers to wear that evening. We went to M&S and I helped him choose. I had this feeling of being so comfortable with him, shopping like an old married couple, that I knew this was it. He was the right one. We have been happily married for twenty years in November.

...at ease with him... grr.

Unlike with other boyfriends, I felt completely at ease with him from Day 1. Some people think he's an awkward cuss, but we always got on well. He is entirely reliable and I knew that was a quality I looked for in a life partner. We met at a friend's house 51 years ago and will have been married 50 years in January 2019.

Knowing exactly what he was trying to tell me underneath all the jokey things he used to say as he passed me at work.