Newcomer living in Hell

[Ahoy]

bravo, you don't know what the future holds. Try not to think in blanket statements in regards to your future (i.e. dating, or being with or without your wife). The truth is that none of us knows what the future brings. Allow yourself to be surprised -- maybe even pleasantly so. If you're happy with yourself then it doesn't matter what happens anyway. You are all you ever need. BUT when you reach that point, expect that others will find that attractive in you, and you may find yourself in a new relationship. It does happen, even though it's not something to even bother focusing on right now.

BTW, I have been asking a lot of questions of friends of mine whose parents divorced. The one thing that I've heard that gave me pause is that one friend said that she really wished her mother (who was a LBS) had moved on and had a life with someone else. My friend felt a lot of responsibility for her mother's happiness as a response. Consider that, in the long run, having a new relationship (whether with spouse or someone new) might not just be good for you but also for your children.

Of course, you hear the awful step-parent stories too, so maybe it's a no-win situation.

Bottom line: make yourself happy, but keep an open mind and don't try to predict the future.