Washington Post’s My Time columnist Abigail Trafford says, for long-married couples, breaking up may not be that hard to do.

It also does not mean that the marriage was a failure.

Even people who pay no attention to famous people gossip—yes, there are some—were startled by the Al and Tipper Gore break-up. No rumors. They always seemed like such a solid family but open about their crises and how they handled them. An injured child. Her mother’s long course with depression. His lost presidential election.

Trafford’s full column explains the differences between young divorce and divorce in later life. Her point is that the latter can be positive.

Finally, here is someone who can explain what may have happened. Of course, the tabloids already are at work claiming such un-Al-like actions that they don’t bear repeating.

The Washington Post

“Al and Tipper breaking up? What a shock! But maybe not. Blame it on longevity.

“As people lead longer, healthier lives, it is not surprising that long-married 60-somethings might decide to go their separate ways in order to make the most of the rest of their lives — not just a few sunset years, but possibly two or three decades. If they are not happy together, why should they stay together?

“Every marriage — and each divorce — has a private and public narrative. No one knows what really goes on between two people. We can spot certain divorce triggers, from abuse and addictions to emptiness, burnout and lust. But the unraveling of a marriage is much more complicated, especially in a long union.

“Our notions of divorce are mainly based on younger breakups, since most divorces occur within the first 10 years of marriage.”

Source: Washington Post, June 8, 2010