I have to admit, I’m one of the skeptics in this. My husband and I love each other deeply and our love helps us weather the hardship and difficulty together. I see your idea as an over simplification. No matter how wonderful any couple’s personal relationship may be, human lives have never been devoid of external hardships. The real tragedy for me would be suffering alone. I agree there doesn’t have to be hardship and difficulty in a loving relationship. But, life without hardship — even for the most privileged of us — simply does not exist. Whatever we choose in our personal relationships, there will always be external forces beyond our control which will bring hardships and difficulties into our lives. To expect that those external hardships will never cause breaks in the calm and peace of our personal relationships is unrealistic, in my estimation. Expecting zero conflict would seem to deny one another the full expression of our humanity. The true test, I believe, is making room for the natural individuality of human nature without straining our interpersonal bonds.