When I met my AH, I was divorced. When that marriage ended, I swore I will never ever get married again. "I will never ever be with a man with an ex wife. I will never ever deal with step children again." (Obviously from these statements I had some serious issues in the past). So, I met a man that had not been married and had no children. (We were both 43 when we met and married 6 years later)
The problem is when you set boundaries, they tend to change. I missed the part about I would never marry an alcoholic. (When I met AH he had been sober for 15 years) And obviously I missed the "never ever get married" mantra I chanted so often.
Confusious say....NEVER say never.