[trevorstarick]

Over the past eight years didn't sound as sexy.

[teach]

Be very very careful with this sort of thing. Try "the better part of a decade" if you want a phrase with a similar ring but actual truth behind it.

[SergeyDruid]

"Over the past quasi-decade"

[jknt1164]

"Spanning two decades"

[jacquesm]

It would have been the truth.