But since I'm sitting in the chair, rather than the couch, I'll ask the question: Why haven't you had a knockdown-dragout conversation with Mrs. Anon over the issue?

I'm speaking purely from experience here, but I know I'm older than you are, and I've likely been married longer as well. If a marriage is to thrive (not survive – many unpleasant marriages survive without truth between partners), now and then unpleasant conversations about really unpleasant topics have to happen. Have you had it? You know my email address if you'd like to take this private.

My marriage isn't the best that's ever been, but it isn't the worst by any stretch. It's a union between one very smart, and good, person and the evil dummy who happens to write at this blog. It's survived in part because we give each other room. There has to be some in any successful relationship.

(She religiously reads my blog and monitors my Twitter, too. And God help me if I blog about anything she doesn't approve of – which is often.)

She's not exactly pleased that I even have male friends; female friends are even worse. She tell me to "be careful" because I have taken up a friendship with an older gay male who owns the same breed of dog as I do. (We meet at the dog park where our dogs to play.) Because, OBVIOUSLY, being seduced or roofied are real risks, ya know?

If it were up to her, she'd possess all of my time and all of my soul. Sad thing is, she's not malicious. Poor thing is just too much in love with me. The oppression feels the same to me.

Thanks for the talk on the couch.

The responses were priceless.