"I don't want to just make love, I want to make love last"

I think I have the whole falling in love thing pretty down pat. How I do it, I don't know. But I never really ran into problems once the ball started rolling.

The questions I have about love are the questions about time. How does someone make it stay, just as amazing, just as perfect. And am I missing out on something by not spending the time I could with him.

I am reading a chick flick book. It might be the sequal to The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. I have to say that without a doubt he may be my favorite author. The emotions he can feel are surreal.

But listening to the story of young, and old, falling in love, falling out of love and rekindling the flame... I have realized a few things.

1) Love takes constant effort. CONSTANT. I think people forget this. or get lazy. and I think this is the main reason men lose women. They see the wooing stage as the most important, than once they hook us, thats all they need to do. The romance? It can dwindle. The caress? It can decrease. The conversation? It can become monotonous. Only because the effort had stopped.
2) I don't think most of the people in my life are in love. I think they want to be. I think they pretend to be. But I think they are going through the motions.
3) I would like to know what the secret to making love last. Hobbies? Shared interests? Laughter? Dates? Cute gestures? What makes it continue until you are grown old and sitting in rockers still holding hands. What is the key to happily ever after.