[opinion]
Those things are all well and fine, but the they won't make a marriage LAST.

The three things you listed are the things you need to GET married.

To make it last you need (in no particular order):
Commitment
Communication
Respect

[/opinion]

being equal:
...someone that is your best friend, as well as your lover....someone you can talk to on the same level....

although i'm not married, so what whould i know....we've only been together for almost 10 years

Pornography and lots of it.

Istari isn't married and has no clue.

Friendship, and all that goes with it. The other stuff comes and goes as part of being human, just friendship holds everything together.

I think friendship, as mentioned above, is paramount. But that's too broad and doesn't really define anything.

My grilfriend and I have been dating for about 3 years. We moved in together after knowing each other for about 2 weeks. Recently, we sort of broke up, and she moved out (and away, 120 miles to the east). Now we're merely dating each other, and suddenly our relationship seems much stronger.

Analyzing this in the way I always do, I come to the following conclusions: We moved in with each other much too early in our relationship. We hadn't become the best of friends, or really learned to trust each other fully. Oh, we trusted each other, but out of necessity (since we were living together and sharing incomes/bills, etc). That's the wrong way to go about it.

So freindship would be my answer. But specifically: trust, respect, and lack of resentment. Love obviously plays a part, but love alone isn't enough, as we found out.

Just my $0.002

Well, as of Sunday, I've been married for exactly 6 months.

Not long in the general scheme of things, but what amazes me is that the love mrs fof and I have for each other continues to grow. I know this is because we are getting to know each other better and better all the time, and that we care for each other more than words can express, and that I feweel pain like no other when I hear or see couples who love each other being torn apart, particularly through death.
Some of the stories of Sep 11th were particularly gut-wrenching, as I'm sure anyone will agree. You don#'t need to be married to understand that kind of pain.

SO what keeps it working? I think everything everyione has mentioned above, and also a knowledge that our marriage was part of God's plan for our lives.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

- Love, of course
- Trust and faith (100% necessary)
- Respect
- Good communication

I think if you have those above, your couple can go through anything and all the rest is accessory.

Migeleto has seen Excalibur too many times.

I forgot to mention....if you are a man, then you must remember that you will always be wrong....even when you are right....you will be wrong....

Yes...gotta plan something special for next June....will be 20 years....
{seems longer].....

what about chocolate?
i feel that enough chocolate (and donuts of course) can solve most problems

Yes, especially chocolate syrup...

Mutual respect & communication. My husband of 18.5 years is my best friend and he accepts "always being wrong" very graciously.