Having sex seven times a month, never going to bed on a bad note and admitting when you’re wrong have been revealed as some of the best ways to keep the romance alive in a long-term relationship.

New research found that regularly getting it on, being able to laugh at each other and continuing to say ‘I love you’ are some of the tried and tested methods for staying close as a couple.

Researchers surveyed 2,000 British couples who have been together for 10 years or longer to uncover the secrets to a happy relationship.

Turns out how often you get intimate is considered quite important to long-term coupledom, with respondents sharing that seven is the magic figure in terms of the number of times they do it each month. The top route to relationship success, however, is having fun together, with 64% citing this as a major plus point.

Other tips include having no secrets (43%), a similar sense of humour (41%) and never going to sleep on an argument (31%). Equality also proved important, with over a quarter (26%) of the couples polled, saying a 50/50 division of household chores was essential to keeping things amicable.

Trying not to change each other (36%) and having an open phone policy (10%) also featured in the list.

Almost half (44%) of those couples surveyed, claim they are very happy in their relationship, while a further 29% said they were generally happy.

When it comes to knowing you’ve found the one, a romantic fifth (19%) said they realised on their first date, while a more practical 46% said they knew after a few months.

Despite generally being content in their relationships, it seems there’s a limit to how long that giddy-in-love phase lasts with the survey revealing the honeymoon period ends after approximately nine months of being together.

It seems that the path to true love doesn’t always run smoothly, however, as despite 48% believing they have found their soulmate, one in five admit to being unfaithful.

Surprisingly 85% of couples experiencing infidelity have managed to work things out, with 38% saying an affair actually made their relationship stronger.

In the peaceful Lake Mary neighborhood of Florida, a unique resident known as “Tripod” has been attracting attention due to an extraordinary incident involving a poolside refrigerator and White Claw hard seltzer. Tripod, the three-legged bear, has become somewhat of a local legend in this tranquil community.

A Surprising Encounter

Residents of Lake Mary had encountered Tripod before, but his recent visit to a resident’s garden took an unexpected turn. The bear, recognizable by its tripod stance, boldly helped itself to some food and drinks from a poolside refrigerator. Josaury Faneite-Diglio, the homeowner, recounted the incident with both surprise and understanding.

“He ate the fish food we had outside next to our fish tank and then proceeded to the bar,” she recalled. “He took three White Claws, drank, and left very happy. His favorite flavor is mango and strawberry.”

Familiarity and Respect

One remarkable aspect of this story is the familiarity that Lake Mary residents have with Tripod. Faneite-Diglio’s security camera captured the bear’s adventure, but there was no sense of fear. “I was not scared because we know the bear really well. He lives here; we respect their habitat as much as we can,” she explained.

The Mystery of the Missing Leg

The mystery surrounding Tripod’s missing leg adds an air of intrigue to his story. While the circumstances behind his injury remain unknown, it’s a testament to the resilience of wildlife in the face of adversity.

In a world where human communities and natural habitats often intersect, Tripod serves as a symbol of coexistence and adaptation. His unusual encounter with a poolside refrigerator and White Claw has brought a unique blend of charm and curiosity to Lake Mary, reminding us of the remarkable stories that can unfold when humans and wildlife share a common space.

So, as we reflect on Tripod’s story, we’re reminded that nature has a way of surprising us, teaching us to appreciate the resilience of the wild and the importance of respecting their world even in our own backyards.

Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder found some interesting patterns in romantic relationships. Contrary to the idea that opposites attract, their study showed that for around 80% of the traits they examined, couples tended to be quite similar.

These traits included things like political views, education levels, and some aspects of intelligence. So, it seems like people with shared characteristics are more likely to pair up than those with stark differences.

However, it’s not a complete copy-and-paste situation. Some traits, such as height, weight, medical issues, and personality, didn’t always align between partners. In these cases, the idea of opposites attracting did hold to some extent, but the correlations were often weak.

What’s intriguing is that even when we think we’re consciously choosing our partners, there might be subconscious factors at play. Similarities in shared values, beliefs, and hobbies could be driving these patterns.

So, while the notion of opposites attracting isn’t entirely debunked, it’s safe to say that similarities in many aspects of life play a significant role in romantic relationships. Whether it’s common interests, values, or experiences, these shared traits seem to bring people together, even if there are a few differences along the way.