Thanks. You are right that I am still a newbie - just 3 months in. That surely colors my perspective, and that is why I am all too happy to listen to the lessons of people who have put in much more time than me.
Honestly, I have melancholic moments thinking about the good times my W and I had while out on a trip to Seattle years ago, but for the most part my thoughts dont go to her and the MR unless I direct them too. I enjoy the time with my friends for what it is - time to reconnect and build new bonds with my friends. If anything, I want to talk more about the separation and MR with my friends as I dont shy away from it and it helps me process and feel better about it.
In terms of giving up hope - it seems to me that that is the only way for me to really drop the rope. If I dont do that I cant let her go fully and genuinely.
W 34 Me 42 Married 7 years together 8 0 kids 1 beloved dog BD 4/6/2018 I moved out 4/7/2018 I moved back in alone 8/05/2018 I file 3/06/2019 D official 5/7/2019
