BTW, 14 year relationship? Are you shacking up? Neither of you wants to get married? That's nice.
Finally, nothing can ruin a good marriage like kids. 
Art
We've always had this, "Marriage? Why ruin a good friendship" approach. There has been, up until this point, no real need to get married. We know we're not going anywhere without each other. I guess I've postponed it longer than she has, since I kinda' enjoy the "renegade" status it imbues us with amongst our aging friends. Most are married now, with kids, and even though I see how much they enjoy their families, they pine for the days when they could do pretty much what-ever-the hell they wanted. Like me. They'll be crushed when we get "hitched", as it will hasten the twilight of our already dwindling youth. lol. We're kinda' like the last ones still bucking the system...
Anyhow, we've lived together for about 7 years now, so we're basically married, just without the papers. We're both grew up under horribly destructive marriages, so the whole "institution" had kinda' soured for us (I didn't become a curmudgeon all on my own, ya know). Lately however, we've been thinking of making it legal anyhow, for the obvious financial/societal benefits.
Unlike the author of this topic, both our families are flat-broke so we ain't gettin' squat when we're married.
The "kids thing" is a whole 'nother issue. I love kids, but I'm not sure I want any. I certainly don't *need* any, so until a greater justification comes along...we'll be debating that one. I'm more prone to just adopting, since they're so many children without parents already...but she wants *my* baby. I am irresistible that way!

mrC