I don't think there is really an aha moment. But at some point in life, you may find someone whom you get along well with, who is tolerant of your faults, and you of his. And if you both are at the stage where you are ready to settle down, then marriage will come up. Soisuka, it sounds like you aren't at that stage yet, so the institution of marriage may not appeal to you. But it is true, that you don't have to get married to a person to be happy to spend the rest of your life with that person, as marriage is an imposed societal norm. But because it is an imposed societal norm, being married grants a couple access to certain things, like in Singapore, the flat. I think one of the many things why gay people fight for same sex marriage to be recognized is also for visitation rights, when the partner is in the hospital, and to be involved in their treatment process etc.