I crochet, work on my MBA, various crafts, avoid housework, veggie gardening, lawn mowing, sell crafts and consulting on Etsy.com, blog for cash, watch Sci-Fi, swim, camp, and home improvement. After this last round of renovations my assignment is to build a music server for the house with speakers in each room and an arcade machine. I think I want to do a 2 in 1. I try my best not to touch a computer on off-hours though some of my activities require it. There's a laptop permanently perched on the arm of the couch for that reason. I also keep a small bedroom crammed with craft supplies, old computer parts, my desktop computer, books and toys. The toys are mine - my kids are 4-legged and furry - 2 dogs outside and 1 inside cat. When I work on computers for friends I thank my lucky starts I'm not a proctologist! ;P

Here's my addition to give you hope. I've spent 12+ years with my partner and we're stronger than ever. #1 You can get past any issue with communication and the desire to make amends. This includes serial infidelity, addiction, and financial mistakes. (We're living proof, though I won't tell you which!) #2 Stay financially healthy. A wise old German man once told me the key to having a happy house was to have enough money coming in so the wife can buy what she needs and pay the bills. This man was blessed with 2 25-year marriages, the second after his first wife died. (Most of the arguments in my house were about money.) #3 Make sacrifices and compromise so you can be stronger as a pair. (This involved taking turns being full time students in addition to our jobs. It's difficult to deal with having less time to spend together, but it pays off in the long run.) #4 Encourage your spouse to do things they enjoy outside of the marriage. (I've needed a lot of encouragement to do what I enjoy because it's separate from my spouse. Now I feel free to get involved with the local theater, pursue my education, and take side jobs.) #5 Always say, "I love you" when parting - be it on the phone, in the morning before work, and before going to sleep at night. Sometimes it may feel like lip service, especially when you're mad at each other, but it's good glue to keep yourselves together. It's important to know you're still loved even when your spouse doesn't like you at the moment! I think 5 is enough. Good luck and much love to you and yours! Suzanne