Dearly beloved, Real Simple readers are gathered here today to prove that there is not one secret to a good marriage, but many. Whether it’s separate bathrooms, knowing that your grass is green enough, or making sure never to argue with your clothes on, it’s all about what works for you. Any objections? Speak now or forever hold your peace.

This Month’s Winner

Come As You Are
Marry someone you love exactly as they are, and be sure they feel the same. That way, you’ll never expect more of each other than you are each happy to give. I didn’t realize this until my second marriage. Another secret? Don’t get married until you’re sure of who you are.
Lisa Noll
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Lisa will receive a copy of Real Simple Cleaning.

The Fun House

Tickle fights! Several times a week, my husband and I engage in a spontaneous tickle-battle royale. I almost always lose, but writhing in giggles is a great way to end the evening.
Karla Perrin
London, Ohio

My husband and I have a strict rule: Never argue with your clothes on. If we are out and about to fight, we know that we have to wait until we’re home and undressed. By then we’ve usually forgotten what the trouble was about.
Amy Hadsall
Cameron, North Carolina

Playfulness. We snap wet dish towels at each other and joke around. I thank my husband for teaching me to have fun. We are the parents of an autistic son, and much of the last nine years has been rough — however, my husband has always taken the time to play with me.
Susan Garcia
La Verne, California

My husband shows he’s thinking of me by buying me unusual gifts. My favorite is the pair of giant clown shoes he had handmade for me. I wore them with a dress to the formal Christmas dinner at his family’s home.
Kristen Frame
Newark, Ohio

Friday-night dates. We might eat at a nice restaurant, go bowling, or just sit at home with a freshly purchased gallon of ice cream and (to my husband’s dismay) the latest chick flick.
Anjanette Paul
Las Vegas, Nevada