Expected gasket life?

[Maggie]

Hi all!

Just a quick question...is there a relative time one might expect gaskets to last? I have on oil leak on the left side of the cylinder, did my research here and got some new exhaust gaskets, thinking that would likely be the culprit. Then, pulled the muffler (no leaks from exhaust) and saw that the leak is coming from the gasket between the two parts of the cylinder (is that the head gasket?). I think it is part #11141-38201 on Ron Ayers. Anyway, looking back over my service receipts, I see that I paid $80 for "top end gaskets" to repair a "leak on left cylinder" in May of 2011 when I had 9,000 miles. I now have just under 13,000 miles. That seems a pretty short time to have this leak crop up again (and I have had it for a while, just haven't followed up with the repair). I also see that a different shop did some kind of repair for a left cylinder leak back in July of 2008. Looking at the microfiche, it looks like the head gasket replacement might be a little too much for me to do alone, but before taking it in, I'd like to see what you guys think. :??: