Living in a culture where divorce is becoming more and more common, it isn't every day you hear about couples lasting through the decades -- let alone five of them. But Pat and Roland "Doc" Swanson of Woodbine were happy to share some of the stories and passions they've developed over the past fifty years of marriage.

But first, for a few marriage secrets.

"There is no perfect marriage, just like there is no perfect life," Doc Swanson said. "It's about working side by side." Pat agreed, adding, "It's about picking your battles."

Married March 15, 1958, Pat and Doc recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at Glenwood Community Center among neighbors, college friends and family.

"We were so tickled it landed on the actual day we were married...a Saturday," Pat said.

"In contrast to all the news stories about cheating and divorce, I looked at these people and thought, 'You know what? They made it, and it's hard, and it's a trial,' " the Swanson's neighbor, Karen Smith said of their 50 years of marriage.

'Good fortune'

The Swansons met in the band at the University of Maryland in 1954 "as good fortune would have it," Doc said. She was a junior English and social studies major and he was a freshman music education major. In the band, they got very close through the activities and practices.

Like many struggling college students, Doc worked at the dining hall early in the morning to make some extra money during part of his college career. When money became really tight, he joined the Army, was stationed in New Jersey, and finished up his degree.

These days, both are retired Prince George's County teachers, which has given them a lot of time to pick up new hobbies and travel. Doc began painting more than eight years ago and takes classes, and also used to do some stained glass art. Pat has won blue ribbons at the county fair for her jellies, honey, tomatoes, canning and pies.

As if that isn't a handful already, they are also avid gardeners. Doc even built a greenhouse in their backyard out of a patio door someone was going to throw out. "We enjoy gardening, and for a while it was a necessity," Pat said. "Now we do it on a limited basis because we enjoy it."

Since they retired, they have traveled to several places around the world; however, their first vacation away from their kids wasn't until their 25th anniversary when they went on a cruise. Doc tried to surprise Pat with the trip, and even set up a secret bank account to do so.

"It became ridiculous driving to this bank where the account was, so I just told her," he laughed.

Three Glenelg grads

Pat and Doc have three children, all of whom went to Glenelg High School. Their oldest daughter, Diane Swanson Riffe, lives in Beltsville with her husband and two children. Deborah lives in Washington, and Eric is a band director in North Carolina.

When their children were growing up, the Swansons were Boy and Girl Scout leaders and active in their church community. Pat still teaches adult Sunday school at their church, Lisbon United Methodist Church. They are also chairpeople for the division of fine arts at the County Fair.

Every year, the Swansons try to have a neighborhood Christmas party where they invite the neighbors over for dessert and a chance to say hello to the neighbors. They also have welcoming parties for new neighbors.

"When we arrived here, we moved from Africa in 1995 and all our goods were on the ship," Smith said. "When we got to our house, there were muffins, a broom and a bucket on the front door. They even offered us their beds."

Another neighbor agrees about their welcoming ways.

"They are always very helpful," Kurt Peterson said. "They took us under their wing when we moved in the neighborhood 25 years ago. We were very young when we bought the house and they really greeted us into the neighborhood and made us feel very welcome."

Although they swear they are just like other people they know, Pat and Doc exemplify good neighbors, community members and a couple that has endured the test of time.

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