A New Perspective On Matrimony

Since half of all marriages end in divorce, I've often pondered the thought of a marriage license that has an expiration date. Think about it, it makes perfect sense. You get married and start out by signing say, a one year contract. The first year goes well, then your marriage license expires. You both decide to renew for an additional five years. Then, the kids start coming, bills are mounting, your once adoring spouse suddenly takes to drinking too much, staying out all night and isn't holding his end up on your marriage contract. The resentment grows deeper and deeper, but you know that you've only got a few months to go in your current marriage contract before it expires, so you hang in there and in a short while you are free of the bum. No messy divorce, no costly attorneys fees, no guilt, no shame. The marriage is over and done. Of course you would have to have a prenuptial agreement in place to determine custody and visitation issues, along with all financial issues spelled out. You'll take the cat, and the bum takes the dog. How simple would that be? 

It could go something like this; "No Marge, Henry and I have decided not to renew, he's moving to Vegas with his bimbo and I'm taking the poodles and moving back to Tucson".

Or this; "Rafael  and I are still madly in love". "We have renewed our marriage license for the fourth time now".

A couple of empty nester's sit together, pondering the thought of "renewing" their marriage license. They've been married for 25 years, raised several great kids, and they are still in love, and very pleased with each other's contributions of their precious union. They mutually decide to renew their license, and sign up for another decade together.

You can bet the divorce attorneys and marriage counselors wouldn't be pleased at all about this policy, but the longer I ponder the concept, it seems more feasible than the way marriages end now days.