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We invited my 20-year-old niece to visit us in Florida and she said she would come if she could bring her boyfriend. We bought their tickets, which were expensive, and re-arranged medical stuff because of their short notice. The morning they were expected to arrive they let us know that they had given up their seats in exchange for some high-priced travel vouchers which meant we had even less time with them. Since we had paid for their tickets, we felt they would at least offer to give us one or both vouchers. Nope! While here they would walk far in front of us when going places, leave their belongings everywhere, and…

I have been with this guy, “Tony,” for a year and four months. He’s 30 now and I am only 24. Age is not an issue in this case though. At the beginning, he told me he did not want a relationship due to the fact he had been cheated on by his fiancée in his own bed five years earlier. Months went by and I asked what we were and where we were going, and he said he just wanted to take things slow, which I understood because of his past. Then somehow I ended up staying the night at his place so often that I was basically living with him;…

I’d love some of your wisdom and that of your generous and intelligent readers. I am remembering your post about how your 40s are a time when life gets real — friends get divorced, children or spouses die, parents die or get old, etc., and I am learning that is true. I’m also thinking about your post from a few years ago about showing up, which really impacted me and I’ve done a much better job about showing up for my friends since reading that, but I want to be even better. Specifically, I’d like advice on how to support friends who are dealing with difficult challenges that often come with this…

I’m 50-year-old man who likes being single and free. I don’t really want to get married. I don’t want to live with a woman. It’s too much of a compromise now and I’m very set in my ways. I live alone and I like my own space. If I get lonely, I can just ring someone. If I want a date, I can use Tinder. If I want sex, I can visit a prostitute (if unsuccessful on Tinder). And this is uncomplicated for me. I have my interests and hobbies. I’ve been told I’m good looking for my age. I’m employed, financially stable, fit and healthy. I’m close with my parents. I…

I am a 57-year-old man and my significant other is a 54-year-old woman, “Linda”. We have a good relationship, I do love her, and she’s a good person who has been good to and for me despite some reservations I have about the way she entered my life. I was a drunken pothead when we met. Now I very seldom drink, but I still smoke my pot. Pot makes life a little easier for someone who is bipolar. Now for the kicker to this whole relationship. Her son, “Luke,” and his lady, “Maria,” have been together for six years and have a 5-year-old son together. Somewhere in their relationship, before their son…