What sets your relationship with your SO apart from previous relationships?

Communication and understanding. First marriage, there were tons of fights and the anger that lingers on from that trickles into other conversations that would normally be harmless.
This time around, been my by SO for 3.5 years and not a single fight. We’re clear with each other when we don’t like something said we bring it up. And constantly bringing up our honest thoughts and feelings.
As far as understanding, we took the approach of throwing all cards on the table right at the beginning, expressing our ways of handling things, good/bad habits, all of it. Left no room for unexpected surprises later on.
- That honesty sounds like something to emulate. Glad to hear it.

She's the best, she's my favorite person and the only one out of everyone I was with that I knew I wanted to marry.
So I did and it's flourish years later. Right now she's yawning and fishing for back rubs before she falls asleep. She's still the best.

When we make mistakes,we talk it out and say sorry. Also she helps me clean the house and understands that I have a disability (bad case of arthritis).
My ex wife used to hit me or threaten me to beat me up all the time, always made a mess of the house and never cleaned after herself. I used to find moldy plates with some food on them below the bed, next to the toilet, below tables, etc).

It has gone on forty years. None of the others lasted even a tiny portion of that.

I went from being my partner's life, with all the stress for me, and jealousy/insecurity for her, to a relationship where each or us have our own lives but choose to share them.

We're still dating.
For real though, she's real with me when I'm being annoying or mean, and she's willing to think about our future despite our separate fears of the future. She loves me and I love her.