If you have geographic tongue, is it usually always there for the rest of your life?

Yes: No cure, but also not harmful. Just looks bad sometimes.

Usually: Geographic tongue (glossitis migrans) is a peculiar, but benign, condition of the tongue involving 'migrating' areas of denuded tissue that covers the tongue. These denuded patches are reddish and have white borders and move from area to area on the tongue.

Usually: Benign migratory glossitis (geographic tongue) is a benign disorder of unknown origin. The tongue "sheds" it's surface and this may be sensitive to spicy (or other) foods at times. It sometimes seems to occur with increased stress, but no real proof.