Over 25 years - I met The Chief when we were both working security, guarding a plant in Lafayette, Indiana. We'd get on the phone, there, and chat about a LOT of stuff, sometimes just to stay awake! We stayed friends when I left that job - my wife liked him, and his - then - girlfriend. We lost track when we moved to Indianapolis, and a few years back, one of us tracked the other down (I think it was him) and made contact. He was in the Navy as a Chief (imagine that) at the time. We talked about life in general, and our relationships. I believe I had just got divorced, and he had a few years earlier. His was much more, shall we say, acrimonious, than mine, but he'd worked most of it out, and was remarried. We've IMed since before he retired from the Navy. I ran into this site, and became a member, saw some questions about the military, and asked him to join. He's been hooked ever since. Oh, two more that I've known about the same length of time. Both my sons occasionally get on the site, too. One is 26, the other will be 25 in October. Why do they last? Well, with the Chief, he's almost always been a straight-shooter, and I have always been relatively good with advice, when he needed it. And with my sons, well... What can I say, there! We're family! LOL ;-)