Field Report time.

So for those of you too lazy to google "US Navy Basic Training Time",I'll just say it here- it's nearly nine weeks of Very Unpleasant Times.

Part of the Unpleasantness is needing to take Very Brief Showers.No karaoke contests allowed in Uncle Sam's showers- get in, wash the essentials, and Get Out.

My first day home on leave after graduation, I jumped into the shower and after 60 seconds reached for the off lever on instinct.

-whoa, what the fuck, this ain't the recruit division. I can stay in...however long I want to?!?

I genuinely felt weird. An activity millions of civilians all over the world take for granted , and there I was feeling like a streaker in a Saudi mosque because I wanted to take a shower longer then Rschel Maddows attention span.

I offer this anecdote because nowadays being in relationships ain't much different then being in boot camp. Instead of an angry white guy with a Big Hat yelling at you, instead it's a svelte chick with a Big IPhone.

Lift this. Drop that. Buy this. Don't buy that. Park here. Don't park there. Help my in laws . Sell your Camaro. Buy me a BMW. Let's get married. We should eat vegan. Don't take that high paying job . You dunce , why did you listen to me and decline the high paying job?

On and on it goes, until most men who quarter with women simply say "Yes ma'am" at attention and hope for the best.Eventually normal , basic human activities like standing up for yourself become as alien as a five minute shower feels to a Basic Trainee after graduation.

Bottom line- unlike Boot Camp you've got a choice in an LTR.

You can say no.

You don't have to buy her flowers. You don't have to buy her a house. You don't have to sell your GTO because she says to. You can buy a steak for yourself and not share. You can travel someplace she doesn't want you to go. You can turn your neck and check out hotter women then she in public. You don't have to put up her family and their ten cats in your home. You don't have to spend $2000 on a designer doorknob. You don't have to buy a luxury car you don't like. You don't have to raise her kids. You can decide how awesome your life should be.

Claim your sovereignty- you can decide when to turn off the metaphorical shower. All you have to do is recognize the choice exists.