:confused: After so many years how do you know you love them as your partner and not as a family member? After so many years how do you know you should try to work it out if you can imagine yourself happy without him? How do you know it should be over?

To love someone (family) is very different than to be IN Love with someone.

You would feel passionate, loving, caring, devoted... among other things toward your partner. Sometimes you get "comfortable" with each other but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Only you can answer those questions for yourself, but I think as long as the partnership is honest, and no one is hurt (emotionally, physically, etc.) than you should try to work it out and stay together. What does your heart tell you?

I felt the same exactly. I wanted passion in my marriage. I would have been happy with just an open mouthed kiss! So I left for two years. All in all, I'm much happier back home with comfortable, and predictable, ole hubby.
One day we'll be arm and arm looking out at the grandbabies, and we'll be "family members" together. We built this life, together. Can't throw that away. I still want passion, sure. Maybe it will come back, maybe not. I'm happy.

Just me, whatever life throws at us we deal with it together. Sometimes the passion leaves for vacation, or where ever, but we work, and it comes back, and sometimes we reach a lowpoint, so we work some more, and reach a high point. The point is as long as your willing to work together, you will be together. When you quit, it pretty much over.