Lisa and I have been married for 32 years. Do you have a post nuptial “agreement”? We do!
Admittedly, this will not work for all – especially for the romantics.
Many years ago, before I took on a job that involved long business trips away from home, Lisa and I discussed marital infidelity. She is an angel but what about an alpha male like me – all the more, a Leo.
Okay, okay,
Spare me the sniggers – I’ll let you all know that during my time, I’ve turned a female head or two – not only felines – some were of the two-legged variety and some, even human.
Even if I don’t stray – back then, a big “if” I confess – what’s to stop a honey pot from throwing her jugs at me?
I discerned a consistent pattern. Young couple falls in love. She sacrifices her career, minds the home and children, and helps build his career. Twenty years down the road, they stock take and realise they actually have a few acorns squirreled away. He decides he needs a swanky apartment, a new lifestyle, a new topless two-door testosterone powered mean-machine.
Yeah! Bring on the leather!
There is something else – lest we forget – for every guy who strays, there is someone helping him stray. For those who are quick to blame the induced, in this day and age, don’t overlook the inducer.
We discussed several ideas and Lisa came up with her views about “love” and “commitment”. All great and I agreed with her, but I’m an aircraft maintenance engineer – remember? Preventive maintenance. Nothing in the manual. So, write your own manual.
How does one keep out the mice? Remove the cheese!
I suggested transferring all our assets to Lisa. Initially, she was against the idea but over the weeks, came around to it but insisted that I retain a tiny portion.
I’ve always believed the best person to manage routine family finances is the woman, especially when she attains motherhood. See also my post Maternal Instincts about mothers taking charge.
When the lawyers drew up the papers, the senior partner (my age) understood but his young assistant – she was sweet and super efficient – displayed amused disbelief.
My rational was this. If I strayed, if some younger thing came for me – she will have to love me for all my charms and not for all the money I don’t have. Not surprisingly, no younger thing came – not even of the non-human variety.
Of course, this was not the end-all. Like everyone else, we still had to work on our marriage. After 32 years, most of the tempest is behind us – but one never knows with the weather.
So, got to keep working on my charms 🙂
Beyond the customary promises have you done anything special to help secure your marriage?
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Related Links – some short poems about LOVE:
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Tomorrow
55 Word Flash Fiction
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