Do You Remember Who You Were (Without Your Partner Telling You?)

It's long been my contention that too much

togetherness is a horrible, debilitating thing. Even in the midst

of an otherwise healthy and mutually beneficial relationship,

too much familiarity does indeed breed contempt!

I have always felt that a couple should have at least

a spare room for one or the other to retire to for some

solitude, if not maintaining separate dwellings all together.

Ideally, a 3-bedroom house/apartment/condo would be

divided as my partner and I did it;

A bedroom for the both of us, and a bedroom apiece for each

individual (to be decorated and maintained only as they

see fit.)

See, there's too much compromise in a modern

relationship. Too much amalgamation and loss of

identity. It's an unnatural and costly social experiment.

We go along feigning acceptance of this atrocious

model of glomming on and complete bondage,.

but nobody really thinks it's a good idea.

But everyone's a hamster on a wheel, so...

Another good idea for maintaining sanity is to have a

vacation. No, not a couples or family vacation

(although those are all right in their own sense.)

I mean an actual vacation from all the

trappings of your normal every day reality--the shit that

drives you to need a break in the first place.

You, yourself, and maybe your friends you never see

anymore, take your asses and get in a car or on a train

to Anywhere that is away from the normal scenery.

Hell, even go to the next town over and get a room for

the weekend. But GET AWAY! Breathe. Relax. Do

your own thing. Have your own space. Be your own boss.

Remember who you are.

(If you have kids, you need to follow this scheme;

a family vacation with everyone (short and sweet,) a

couples vacation (to be free of chirrun for a change,)

and a solo vacation (for tranquility and meditation

and "Me Time."))

If we could talk people into adapting these habits,

we'd have a lot less depression, a lot less divorce, a lot less

anxiety, a lot less assaults, and maybe even some happier

campers at the end of the day.

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