How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science of Finding Love

by Logan Ury

Is my partner more of a Prom Date or a Life Partner? In other words, is this someone who will be by my side for the long term, or someone who’s just fun now? The Wardrobe Test: If my partner were a piece of clothing in my closet, what would they be? Is this someone I can grow with? Do I admire this person? What side of me does this person bring out? Is this the person I want to share my good news with? When I have a hard day at work, do I want to talk about it with my partner? Do I value my partner’s advice? Am I looking forward to building a future with this person? Can I envision reaching key life milestones together, such as buying a house or having a family? Is this someone I can make tough decisions with? If I imagine worst-case scenarios, like losing a job or losing a child, is this the person I’d want by my side to think through questions like “Should we relocate?” or “How can we manage our grief while taking care of our other children?” Do we communicate well and fight productively?