Running out of time.

[ClingingToHope]

On the dating thing. I'm just really social and W is very closed off so for me, it's really been 15 years of shutting myself down because she's such a wallflower. I'm ready to get out and laugh and enjoy myself -- as much as I can on what's left of my income.

Yes. The more you think about what's going through W's head the worse you feel. I have been there for most of these nine months. In my case, once it became about money I started to heal.

But not entirely. Ever since getting the actual divorce filing on Wednesday I've wavered between crying and defiantly happy. I'm emotionally exhausted.

We're alike in that there's been so little emotional communication. It's almost always been about the kids. I have gotten zero indication she's wavering or regretting the decision at all.

Dottie, the DB counselor, said in my case, since W first mentioned divorce six years ago that she's been at least somewhat unhappy for at least eight years because it takes two to three years usually for someone to go from thinking the D word to actually saying it.

She said that to warn me this was no six month to one year fix. It is going to take W two years or more to realize she made a mistake -- if she ever does.

I'm afraid you may be in a similar situation.

I was out tonight with a couple of friends. One has a friend -- single mom -- looking for a "man on demand." Meaning she's very busy, her schedule changes all the time and she wants somebody willing to spend time with her on pretty much a moment's notice.

I told her give me five months or so. I'd be a man on half demand. Meaning if it's not my weekend with my girls, hey I'm available.

She laughed at that.