I'm sure it's very possible, but would it really take a married couple 40 years to realize that they've grown apart? At a certain age, wouldn't it make more sense to say, "Well, we've been together for this long, would it hurt to just stay together?" It's not like people in their 60s and 70s are going to go out clubbing to celebrate the single life. Who really wants to start a new relationship at retirement age? And I'm sure nobody really ever wants to die alone.

My guess is that there are usually underlying issues that fester and grow uglier and uglier until one side just can't take it anymore. But once again, if you've lived with it for decades, how hard would it be to tough it out for the last few remaining years of your life? It's all pretty mind boggling.

Not surprised anymore about couples splitting. My parents split after 52 years of marriage; 8 kids and 6 grandkids. My mom decided she did not want to put up with dad's stuff anymore. He was a very controlling, angry man but a good dad. He provided for us, sent us to Catholic schools, pay tithes, instilled good values in us but had issues (who doesn't) lol!! Neither smoked nor drank. I think dad cheated 2 or 3 times but he never let it interfer with raising us. he could have left his family but he didn't and I thank him for staying. They are both 80 years old now; he is in a nursing home and she is living the rest of her life out in peace. They live about 1 mile away from each other, she has visited him in the home and he asked her to please stay ther with him. To which she replied, (I'm going home and getting in my own bed to peace and quiet) Prior to him going in after several strokes, he would drive by on holidays and get a plate..lol ! I had a visit with him last June at the death of my eldest sister, and he had so many regrets. but like he said, Life goes on!! Not a sad story, true story. life happens!

Perhaps they think with a few decades ahead of them that there's more to life than "toughing it out".  My parents have been married a little bit longer than the Gores and, as far as I know, are happy. I love that they're still together. However, if I had reason to think they were just phoning it in and toughing it out, I'd rather they were living separate lives pursuing happiness.

It's so easy to forget that marriage is about two individuals - not just a couple.  It's not so hard to see how people who married straight out of college and have lived through the extraordinary experiences these two have that they'd come through on the other side with different expectations, goals, and desires for life.

Actually, it is quite understandable why the Gores are now calling it splitsville. Tipper finally opened her eyes and saw what a real elitist shallow minded dingbat liar her husband was. LOL

Well no. You made a pact to stay together for the kids, or career. Now that it has been accomplished,

time to go separate ways. There is no mystery about this. It happens ALL the time whether you're a

"HIGH PROFILE COUPLE" or not.

Truly it's not a BIG DEAL!...Time to move on.

I will be married, 44 yrs. this July 30th. There has been good & there has been bad over the yrs., which is to be expected. Our oldest son is gay & we aren't the least bit upset over it, but frankly it angers us over those who think this is such a big deal. He's a wonderful person, with many people who speak very highly of him. He has a terrific partner & it is obvious they care very much for one anotherl We know this because we can see us in them & it is very reassuring. My husband is a long-time (27 yrs.) recovered alcoholic. The last 2 yrs. of his drinking was living hell & I'm as much disgusted with MY behavior as I was with his. I certainly didn't hold it together with grace & dignity, but I did manage to make it through.

How do we do it? I wish I'd knew; I'd write a book & get rich-lol. I do know that being intellectually similar is almost a given if you don't want to shoot yourself the 29th time you'd heard one of his jokes. We both love to read & learn & feel it is a life-long pursuit for us. We also have the same sense of humor esp. after all these yrs. with our own little "in" looks, comments, etc. that are ours only. THAT'S INTIMACY! We have the same set of values & raised our kids that way. And finally, we have NEVER-honestly-had a fight over money. No kidding. I have NO earthly idea why, but somehow we see almost identical over finances. We both did have an intact set of married parents on both sides & I know that that is an indicator of success in marriage, but we are very different in many ways from them.

I believe that just living life, "A Day At a Time" really does make life & marriage simpler & easier. The saying here anymore with us is: will it matter in 50 yrs.? Good way to put things into proper perspective. I know they say to never go to sleep mad, but we had another approach-flight until you are exhausted, go to sleep & then in the morning wonder what the hell you were so mad about. It worked for us. We used to have "Hallway Sex." That's where one of you walks down the hall & says, "@!$%# You" & the other one passing says "@!$%# You, too." Now, no fights-can't stand the yelling (NOW I know why my hearing is going-lol) & I get a headache. lol

My only comment on retirement is: "I married him for better or worse, but NOT for lunch." It's just another adjustment phase. Good Luck to everyone out there. Can't believe it has been this long-life happens while you are living it.

Good lord, please don't show images of Al kissing anyone. People may have just eaten.

Just as global warming is losing steam, you can't expect a billionaire environmental hustler to stay monogamous.

If you lose sight of or never had a goal to have a happy marriage, then there is no real "death til us part". People are not really in it till death anymore, only until it becomes inconvenient. Very sad.

Headline: Late in life splits, like Gore's, not rare

( Especially when you are a Pathological liar like Al Gore )

The Warmth went out of their marriage :-)

There could be a lot of reasons for the Gores to break up, but that "they just grew apart" is a sheer cover story for the truth. Are we to believe they are really both that shallow?

How could she lose interest in the guy that invented the Internet?

CONGRATS TO TIPPER! The gal obviously smartened up after all of Al's embarassing garbage over the years , like he invented the internet etc.!

I think she found out he didn't invent the internet. Or maybe it's the light bulbs he's unscrewed. What a dumb story.

Please no, I'll never hear the end of it! My father-in-law will use this as a prime example of how sinful the Democrats are!!! I can't stand listening to his political ranting anymore : (

Does anyone really give a rats azz about Al & Tipper Gore getting a divorce? I mean.. who cares?

I have been married for 25 years and i loved my wife with all my heart,we have had some good fights over the years, but we were allways a team,Last year we went are separate ways i still do not know what happen, maybe people change,looking for something new, they want to feel young again,or maybe they say do i want to live with this person 5 or 10 or 15 years more, there are a thousand reasons why.

Perhaps we have forgotten that up until the last century, the average life expectancy was around 45 years. The phrase "until death do us part" had a short life span and a rather different meaning for married couples then. For centuries people married for reasons that were considered far more important than the rather whimsical notion of romantic love: survival, procreation, inheritance, dynastic longevity and the merging of farms or businesses are just a few that come to mind. No wonder other lovers abounded on the side.

Another reason for those marriages lasting until death was that in most societies, women and their possessions became the property of their husbands upon marriage; an unhappy wife was literally trapped with nowhere to go or any way to support herself if she did left (at least honestly). Then there are the religious and historical precedents and the societal expectation that marriage was a covenant and therefore a forever thing, period. Thus, the case for divorce for anyone, much less the long married, was virtually non-existant until recently.

Given all of the above, that Tipper and Al Gores remained together for 40 years -- and in the crucible of a highly political and this very public life -- is a remarkable achievement. They did not embarrass themselves, his high offices or us with unseemly behavior. Equally noteworthy is the non-dramatic way in which they announced their decision to go their separate ways in an amicable fashion. So be it. I wish them both well in the future.

Confidential to Mark Sanford, Tiger Woods and Jesse James: This is how you handle it.

No it's not rare-seems to be common in the Gore family values!