Just starting my journey as an older guy who’s been married a long time, reading the sidebar and wishing I’d been exposed to it 20 years ago.

I’ve practicing shutting up a lot, which is honestly pretty great. I find a lot of the time when I shut up, I can play the conversation out in my head of what would happen if I were to say whatever dumb thing I just stopped myself from saying.

So apropos of nothing my wife starts talking about how divorce is not the answer… and then adds in a rueful tone, “you have a generous heart, so you’d probably just get together with a nice Chinese girl…” As I have been doing, I just remained silent but made eye contact and smiled. But I was surprised because that is indeed exactly what I would do if the marriage ended, although I’ve never said that.

So is this dread, or was this a test to see if I’d fall all over myself to comfort her?