A Short Primer on Love for Men (and for the Women Who Put Up With Us)

Falling in love is easy. Keeping the love strong over the years…not so easy.

People who are rich often like to share their story with others, so that others can benefit as well. So it goes with love. As one can see by my short bio above, I’m retired Navy, and that carries a great deal of meaning. When it comes to romantic relationships, well, the rest of the bio applies: “If I haven’t done it, I’ve usually done something close.” That refers not only to the good, but also the bad. The reputation that sailors have is well-earned indeed. Of course we were all told what not to do…and then we usually went out and did it anyway. In other words, I’ve been around the block a few times. I am once divorced. Most retired sailors have at least one ex-wife, and I sometimes refer to my ex as my “training wife”. That may sound crude, but remember, I am a retired sailor.

My other major qualification is the fact that my Darling and I have been very happily married for twenty-six years, and we’re still going strong. As trite and silly as it sounds, we have true love. It’s real. It’s the realest thing I know. I really am the luckiest man on the planet. I’d dearly love for everyone to have what my Darling and I have…but it takes work. The lessons below are the lessons my Darling and I learned along the way, and are in no particular order.

One more thing before I begin: not everyone will agree with what I say here, and that’s as it should be. What works for me…