Is there a such thing as soul mates?

My parents are heading for their 60th anniversary and they've always seemed happy. I think a lot more than just 'love' has played a part though.

other causes:

Lack of commitment
lack of education on how to manage a relationship
Lack of putting in the day to day work
Getting encouraged by friends and family to bail on the marriage
Being afraid of needing a person emotionally or economically
Not ever having done the work to know yourself, there for you cant really know someone else
and so on.

My belief is that the Barney version of soul mates is nauseating. But two people who choose to lock their lives together and all through life both refusing to unlock and walk out.....ya, I believe in that. It is not magic, it is shear will and hard work.

Can two people be able to love one another each so deeply, that they can live with each other and be happy for the rest of their lives?

Yes, but this society and culture make it difficult to do so.

We "use" people for egoistic, emotional and sexual gratification and think we are in Love. Height of fooling ourselves & others?