How love makes the Marshutka ride bearable

Okay I know, it's odd for an unmarried 30 year old to even approach the topic of love, it's not something I have the greatest experience with. And don't worry, this isn't going to be about me as much as a reflection of what I've seen here in Georgia about the topic.

I was on a 9 hour marshutka  (this of a minivan but holding about 25-30 people crammed together) ride from my village to Tbilisi this weekend and in the seats next to me there were some Russian couples that were either newlyweds or just eloping, I couldn't tell, but they couldn't keep their hands off of each other. In fact, they spent pretty much the entire time making out and dry humping while we made the trek. During the experience I was pretty pissed because hey, when you're stuck on a ride for that long you just become angry at the world, and seeing other people happy is like eating a spoon of salt after life has kicked you in the teeth. But once I got off, and the irrational rage subsided, I reflected upon the situation and thought what a remarkable power the commitment to another person had. It seems that it can really turn a terrible situation into something that is palatable, if not fun (though honestly I can't think of a marshutka ride ever being fun)

What a marshutka looks like, minus too many people. and the smell. 

I completely understand the evolutionary purpose for love; to keep the species going. But I wonder too if perhaps it might be some sort of psychological mechanism too in order to help people deal with the stresses of an unpredictable and often harsh world. In Georgia there are many hardships; dangerous food conditions, faulty power, bad roads, extreme weather conditions, early death, etc etc. Yet I see the people who are in romantic relationships smiling and finding joy in their lives, however tough it may be. I know that people who are single tend to die earlier and to have depression and a list of other problems, and I wonder if it's simply because they aren't receiving the benefit of having someone to share their experiences with. It's a tough thing to witness something amazing/absurd and not be able to know that someone else has had the same experience. In Georgia they get married very young, like 15-20, and while I know tradition and religion have a role in this, I wonder too if it isn't perhaps a subconscious mechanism to deal with the tough living conditions that many people face. After all, if you have to eat flavorless macaroni for 9 meals strait, isn't it easier to have someone else with you doing it?

And now for something completely different.

To celebrate a recent, rare shower.