Much has changed since Dorothy “Dot” Austin Buchanan and Francis P. “Buck” Buchanan, both 93, of Auburn tied the knot on June 28, 1940, a story that Dot documents in a book she just finished writing: “My Story From Buggies to Bytes.”

Born at home two days apart, they began dating as sophomores at Edward Little High School, members of the Class of 1937.

Getting married in 1940 was different than today, Dot remembers. “We had a church wedding and a reception at home. We didn’t expect anything big. A week’s groceries (cost) $10.”

At the time, Buck was earning $35 a week working at Merrill Haven Farm, delivering milk. Times were tough,Dot said, but “you cope, and you pray.”

Eventually Buck got a job at Bath Iron Works, and life was looking up, until the attack on Pearl Harbor and World War II invaded their “cozy” life. They remember listening to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as he announced, “This is a day of infamy.”

Buck enlisted in the Navy and was shipped to Tennessee and from there to Kaneohe Naval Air Station in Hawaii. They were separated by war from September 1942 to October 1944.

At the end of the war, Buck made a choice that was good for them, not his career, Dot said. “His next rank would have been chief petty officer — one that he didn’t work for or want. He just wanted home.”

After the early challenge of a war, the Buchanans have been blessed. They have three daughters (and three sons-in-law) and six grandchildren. Including them in their travels and everyday life has, according to Dot, kept them strong and family-focused.

Dot and Buck agree that doing things together as well as things apart seem to keep life interesting.

“He likes to hunt and fish and do all those man things,” Dot said.

Together, they dance and travel and spend time with friends.

“I couldn’t have done any better,” Buck said. “She’s very smart.”

When it comes to advice for making a marriage last, “you’ve got to know your husband before you jump into (marriage),” Dot said.

Buck’s advice: “Don’t leave after the first fight.”

“We still like each other,” Dot said. “We were friends before we got married, and we’ve always been friends.”