The Mosgiel couple, who celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary yesterday, consider each other the perfect travelling companion.
In travel, as in marriage, they believed "tolerance" and "a sense of humour" were essential, and admitted to having just "one little domestic" while away.
"If a couple say that, living together, they have never had an argument, then only one brain has been functioning," Mrs Donaldson said.
The pair met at a St John's dance and were married at Iona Church in Port Chalmers.
They settled in Leith Valley where they ran Donaldson's Nursery until 15 years ago, when they moved to East Taieri, then Mosgiel.
It was not until they reached their 40s that they began travelling, first on a camping trip around Australia.
Various trips through the UK, northern and southern Europe, Russia, China, North and South America and southern Africa followed, with the "most interesting" being an overland journey from London to Kathmandu, the couple agreed.
While they had tried to see as much of the world as possible, visiting Port Douglas, in Australia, remained on the list.
Back home they enjoyed community work such as driving for the blind and volunteering for Meals on Wheels.
They have three children, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and will celebrate their milestone with many of them tomorrow.
"It's hard to believe that 60 years have passed," Mrs Donaldson said.
Yesterday felt "no different" to any other day, though, as it "has not really been a prison sentence", Mr Donaldson said.
