Similar experience, opposite conclusions. There is a reason religious areas (in the U.S.) have higher divorce rates. Turned out my first wife didn't want intim

Similar experience, opposite conclusions. There is a reason religious areas (in the U.S.) have higher divorce rates. Turned out my first wife didn't want intimacy of any sort. She wanted marriage but not a relationship beyond the superficial. 10 years later and about >40k in therapy and I divorced her after she admitted she just was never that "attached" to me. I would never advocate a person getting married before sex. Sex is only some life altering emotional thing because of it's scarcity and how people have been inculcated to believe a common animalistic imperative has cosmic spiritual significance. Happily married now to someone with a similar story, they did everything right and their partner just didn't want to be with someone of the opposite sex any longer. It takes two to tango but it only takes one person to pick up their ball and go home. Advice to any kids I ever had would be, have casual sex and relationships until you've developed a better understanding of other people (and also yourself), no marriage until after proof your potential partner is capable of holistic intimacy.