The Argument Against Marriage

I have a partner- he is smart, funny, great with my kids, sensitive, kind, loving and would do anything for me. So don't get me wrong- I'm not against relationships. I love relationships! I have some amazing ones with some amazing people, not the least the one with the guy I live with. (and let me preamble with the fact that this is all about me, and he hasn't proposed or anything even remotely close.) :)

I was married before- married, 2 kids, divorced a few years later. Spent a couple of years finding myself, and then met the man I'm with. I never want to get married again. Never, ever, ever. The words of marriage- commitment, vows, wedding etc, cause a physical reaction in me. A census taker was here yesterday afternoon, and when she asked me if I was married, my immediate reaction was "NO!". And then she asked if I was "common- law." and honestly- even that left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.
Most of my girlfriends don't believe me. When I say something about not wanting to get married again, the usual reaction is "Oh, you will change your mind.".

But I won't. Does that make me weird? Does it make me part of a minority of women? Or are there lots of us out there? Who have been there, done that, got the crappy t-shirt and now just want to live their lives, without making that commitment, without signing papers.
Getting out of my marriage was a hell of a lot harder than getting into it. And I can think of no good reason to get married again. I already did it. I have 2 children from that marriage and am not planning on having any more kids. I am financially independent, I own my own house, I can take care of myself and my kids without sharing my life with someone.

So being with my partner is strictly a choice. A definite decision. And in that is my commitment to it. So how come some people don't think its enough? And a good question is- why when it is a woman saying she never wants to get married...she gets met with disbelief and then a knowing look like "she's just saying that."
Nu-uuh! Not just saying it. Totally committed (snicker) to not committing.
My partner gets it. He knows how I feel. I don't think he necessarily knows what his own views are about it either (having been married himself).

What about you? If you are married...and you had a chance to do it all over again, would you? Or would you not have done it in the first place? I don't regret my marriage- it taught me alot about what I wanted and didn't want, and who I was. But I won't do it again.