LostInLife
Don Juan
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2018
- Messages
- 19
- Reaction score
- 5
- Age
- 43
Hey guys,
I guess I am a bit lost as I am trying to rebuild after a divorce. I was in a relationship for a total of 8 years. Of those 8 years, 30 - 36, two of them I was married. She was four years older than me and was already divorced once. She even said she learned about the mistakes in her first marriage so she knows what to look out for (obviously not). Everything seemed to be fine during the dating years, but things started to change about a year in after marriage. During dating, we had some family issues. I lost three people in my family (sister, father and grand father), went through some medical treatments and minor surgery due to a car accident, and due to this my business had to close during my 1.5 years of rehab. She knew all about this and told her it's going to be a rough road ahead for me, and you can leave should you wish. She stated this doesn't effect me, so I have no reason to leave. She was supportive through the deaths and most of my rehab process, but since I never wanted to burden her with my issues or needs, I took care of things myself. Heck, I even drove myself to the hospital twice as I didn't want to burden her with my recovery. Not saying she would or would not had helped, but it is what it is. After about 1.5 years I was back medically and near 100%. During this time, I was still able to work remotely, so money was never an issue. Due to the drop of my income and work, the lovely IRS decided to do an audit of my books. It lasted for about 14 months due to the red tape, but no negative effects on me aside from fees from the accountants and lawyers. We got married a year or so later, but it was a somber moment as my sister passed away from a heart attack six weeks prior. I tried to delay the wedding, but my now ex-wife and her mom (Sicilian) were saying it was bad luck and would curse the marriage, so we moved forward. Due to the steroids I was given, a side effect was a weaken immune system. The doctors told me to ask my wife what vaccinations she had so I can get the same, she refused to tell me. Thus, I came down with viral pneumonia. If I said she left me for dead, that would be an understatement. I was also battling the flu so she didn't see me for a week or so. I was in the apt., she just wouldn't reach out. One day I was out of food, so I had to text her for help to get food. Her response: FINE! What do you need. I told her what I needed, she got the wrong stuff, so it was my fault and she complained about it. I had CVS deliver it instead. I find it interesting that a teenage CVS person could get the right items over the phone, but a 40 year old M.D. from Columbia University couldn't. Nonetheless, I was shocked at her care for me. Yet, two years earlier, she had the flu, and I took care of her for a week.
Sex started to fall to once a week or once every other week. I was in the process of starting a new business and we would still go away on trips two or three times a year. We split most of the expenses on the trip, but never equal. She was/is an MD with no debt, but didn't have much savings. I fixed her savings and investments, so that was a plus for her I guess. Her credit was in the high 600's, so I added her to my credit cards to help raise her score, but never gave her the cards to use. She also moved into my apt 3 months prior to marriage. I wanted to do a trial period of living together, but she didn't want to. I also wanted to go to per-marital counseling, but she declined that as well. Since my life was running at a million miles a minute from deaths in the family, building a new business, medical issues, etc I was tough. However, I tried to keep a positive outlook on things and talk my issues out. Before moving in, she promised that she'd help around the apt., cook meals with me, we'd switch off each Sunday in visiting her parents and my now widow mother, and work together to build a marriage. None of this happened. She refused to take my last name or even hyphen it, even though this was agreed on prior to marriage. She never cooked or picked up after herself, I had to as well as hire a weekly cleaning service, we'd always have to go to her parents on Sunday, but she stopped coming with me to see my mother during the week (I moved it around since she wouldn't go on Sunday). She wouldn't open up a joint bank account for bills, so I'd be paying all the main bills and she'd pay some of food bills when we went out. Seems the script was flipped on me.
In 2015, sex stopped completely. I know some of her co-workers, and they called this other doctor she was working with her work husband. We went on vacation that summer, but she wouldn't kiss me, let alone touch me. When we got back, I said we have issues here and we need to go to marital counseling or we'll be heading for a divorce. She agreed, but never searched for a counselor, so I did. First one, she didn't like. Second one, didn't want to see us anymore for personal reasons. Third one, she didn't like. Forth one, she didn't want me to go with her as she said she needed the help more than we did. I went to see my pastor, and he recommended that we both come in and discuss our issues, she laughed and refused. I bought some divorce busters books that I read and wanted her to read, she read one page. I then suggested a family intervention with her parents, she said they didn't want to get involved, even though I found out later they knew everything; although, completely jaded. I think we should have an open marriage, just we do not bring this home or tell each other about it. I disagreed and refused, she then walked away.
I am not without fault. During my recovery, I was in a lot of pain and distant. When I was in pain, I went into my office (there's a couch there) until the pain subsided. In addition, she moved out of our bedroom and into the guest bedroom as suggested by the docs due to fear that my spinal cord could be injured during recovery. Since she, by mistake already kneed me during sleep (she always had trouble sleeping), we jointly agreed to this. However, after recovery and I was given the okay by the doctors, I wanted her to move back into the main bedroom, but she refused. She also started to get violet at times, by hitting me in the eyes and arms really hard where I had black and blue bruises. I am not a small guy, 5'11'' @ 185 LBS, but what was I supposed to do, have her arrested?
I came home early the next day, and I found her trying to get into my home office. I work with governmental sensitive data, so the door is locked as required by DOD standards. I heard the banging and said what are you doing, she said what's in there? My office, I opened it up and she went through all the draws then left. I followed her into the living room and I said what's the deal here? She then said my therapist suggests we do a trial separation, I said fine, but I want a legal one filed with the court. She then let out that well, my parents had a 2 year trial separation when I was a kid, they didn't file anything. Well, that's what I want if we're going to go that route. She initially agreed and I prepared the paperwork. She said she talked to her parents, and they suggested not to sign anything. I said fine, we can do it the hard way if you wish. I pushed for the separation and she moved out two weeks later. She didn't seem that she wanted to do it, but it was her therapist's suggestion, so sh!t on the pot or get off. I was at my whits end with her as I've never seen or heard of a person put zero into a marriage or try to save it.
Three months later, I filed for divorce as she refused to meet or talk about our issues. She dragged the divorce out for another 1.5 years with 20k in legal fees that were charged to me. I have no idea what she paid. She got nothing in the end as it was deemed as a short term marriage and since we never had a joint bank account, it was deemed our accounts were considered separate property. In addition, I didn't ask for anything and she earned about 40k more than me in income.
It's been a little over two years, and I am still trying to understand how to right my social life. I've lost about 15 lbs. since my divorce and exercise every other day. I will never get married again, as to untangle that web is pure murder; both financially and emotionally. I've tried online dating, match, bumble, etc. with professional pics, very little success. Most of my friends were married with friends of my ex-wife, so their wives seemed to not want them to do things anymore with me. My business is booming and firing on all cylinders. I moved into a house in a more rural area just to get away from it all. However, I think this may have been to my detriment, as many women do not want to entertain anything with me because I am 20 miles from the closest major city. I have no problem going in, but they always ask were I am, and when I say where I am (middle NJ), they disappear.
So, I am now I a bit lost at what to do. I seem f*cked in my social life. I've never tried online dating before the last two years and it's really tough. What does a 38 year old male do with this? I mostly work and really have little interest in doing much more. I've been on my own since my teens. Aside from my ex-wife, I really didn't have much of a social life after college. I have no problems entertaining myself or being alone as I am used to it. I sometimes get lonely and wonder where did I go wrong socially and how to fix it. I've tried meeting people for hikes and other things, but they are 40+ miles away and when I show up they say you've drove all the way from middle NJ to here with a puzzled look on their face. I just feel very pathetic after those experiences. To say I am lost in life is an understatement.
I guess I am a bit lost as I am trying to rebuild after a divorce. I was in a relationship for a total of 8 years. Of those 8 years, 30 - 36, two of them I was married. She was four years older than me and was already divorced once. She even said she learned about the mistakes in her first marriage so she knows what to look out for (obviously not). Everything seemed to be fine during the dating years, but things started to change about a year in after marriage. During dating, we had some family issues. I lost three people in my family (sister, father and grand father), went through some medical treatments and minor surgery due to a car accident, and due to this my business had to close during my 1.5 years of rehab. She knew all about this and told her it's going to be a rough road ahead for me, and you can leave should you wish. She stated this doesn't effect me, so I have no reason to leave. She was supportive through the deaths and most of my rehab process, but since I never wanted to burden her with my issues or needs, I took care of things myself. Heck, I even drove myself to the hospital twice as I didn't want to burden her with my recovery. Not saying she would or would not had helped, but it is what it is. After about 1.5 years I was back medically and near 100%. During this time, I was still able to work remotely, so money was never an issue. Due to the drop of my income and work, the lovely IRS decided to do an audit of my books. It lasted for about 14 months due to the red tape, but no negative effects on me aside from fees from the accountants and lawyers. We got married a year or so later, but it was a somber moment as my sister passed away from a heart attack six weeks prior. I tried to delay the wedding, but my now ex-wife and her mom (Sicilian) were saying it was bad luck and would curse the marriage, so we moved forward. Due to the steroids I was given, a side effect was a weaken immune system. The doctors told me to ask my wife what vaccinations she had so I can get the same, she refused to tell me. Thus, I came down with viral pneumonia. If I said she left me for dead, that would be an understatement. I was also battling the flu so she didn't see me for a week or so. I was in the apt., she just wouldn't reach out. One day I was out of food, so I had to text her for help to get food. Her response: FINE! What do you need. I told her what I needed, she got the wrong stuff, so it was my fault and she complained about it. I had CVS deliver it instead. I find it interesting that a teenage CVS person could get the right items over the phone, but a 40 year old M.D. from Columbia University couldn't. Nonetheless, I was shocked at her care for me. Yet, two years earlier, she had the flu, and I took care of her for a week.
Sex started to fall to once a week or once every other week. I was in the process of starting a new business and we would still go away on trips two or three times a year. We split most of the expenses on the trip, but never equal. She was/is an MD with no debt, but didn't have much savings. I fixed her savings and investments, so that was a plus for her I guess. Her credit was in the high 600's, so I added her to my credit cards to help raise her score, but never gave her the cards to use. She also moved into my apt 3 months prior to marriage. I wanted to do a trial period of living together, but she didn't want to. I also wanted to go to per-marital counseling, but she declined that as well. Since my life was running at a million miles a minute from deaths in the family, building a new business, medical issues, etc I was tough. However, I tried to keep a positive outlook on things and talk my issues out. Before moving in, she promised that she'd help around the apt., cook meals with me, we'd switch off each Sunday in visiting her parents and my now widow mother, and work together to build a marriage. None of this happened. She refused to take my last name or even hyphen it, even though this was agreed on prior to marriage. She never cooked or picked up after herself, I had to as well as hire a weekly cleaning service, we'd always have to go to her parents on Sunday, but she stopped coming with me to see my mother during the week (I moved it around since she wouldn't go on Sunday). She wouldn't open up a joint bank account for bills, so I'd be paying all the main bills and she'd pay some of food bills when we went out. Seems the script was flipped on me.
In 2015, sex stopped completely. I know some of her co-workers, and they called this other doctor she was working with her work husband. We went on vacation that summer, but she wouldn't kiss me, let alone touch me. When we got back, I said we have issues here and we need to go to marital counseling or we'll be heading for a divorce. She agreed, but never searched for a counselor, so I did. First one, she didn't like. Second one, didn't want to see us anymore for personal reasons. Third one, she didn't like. Forth one, she didn't want me to go with her as she said she needed the help more than we did. I went to see my pastor, and he recommended that we both come in and discuss our issues, she laughed and refused. I bought some divorce busters books that I read and wanted her to read, she read one page. I then suggested a family intervention with her parents, she said they didn't want to get involved, even though I found out later they knew everything; although, completely jaded. I think we should have an open marriage, just we do not bring this home or tell each other about it. I disagreed and refused, she then walked away.
I am not without fault. During my recovery, I was in a lot of pain and distant. When I was in pain, I went into my office (there's a couch there) until the pain subsided. In addition, she moved out of our bedroom and into the guest bedroom as suggested by the docs due to fear that my spinal cord could be injured during recovery. Since she, by mistake already kneed me during sleep (she always had trouble sleeping), we jointly agreed to this. However, after recovery and I was given the okay by the doctors, I wanted her to move back into the main bedroom, but she refused. She also started to get violet at times, by hitting me in the eyes and arms really hard where I had black and blue bruises. I am not a small guy, 5'11'' @ 185 LBS, but what was I supposed to do, have her arrested?
I came home early the next day, and I found her trying to get into my home office. I work with governmental sensitive data, so the door is locked as required by DOD standards. I heard the banging and said what are you doing, she said what's in there? My office, I opened it up and she went through all the draws then left. I followed her into the living room and I said what's the deal here? She then said my therapist suggests we do a trial separation, I said fine, but I want a legal one filed with the court. She then let out that well, my parents had a 2 year trial separation when I was a kid, they didn't file anything. Well, that's what I want if we're going to go that route. She initially agreed and I prepared the paperwork. She said she talked to her parents, and they suggested not to sign anything. I said fine, we can do it the hard way if you wish. I pushed for the separation and she moved out two weeks later. She didn't seem that she wanted to do it, but it was her therapist's suggestion, so sh!t on the pot or get off. I was at my whits end with her as I've never seen or heard of a person put zero into a marriage or try to save it.
Three months later, I filed for divorce as she refused to meet or talk about our issues. She dragged the divorce out for another 1.5 years with 20k in legal fees that were charged to me. I have no idea what she paid. She got nothing in the end as it was deemed as a short term marriage and since we never had a joint bank account, it was deemed our accounts were considered separate property. In addition, I didn't ask for anything and she earned about 40k more than me in income.
It's been a little over two years, and I am still trying to understand how to right my social life. I've lost about 15 lbs. since my divorce and exercise every other day. I will never get married again, as to untangle that web is pure murder; both financially and emotionally. I've tried online dating, match, bumble, etc. with professional pics, very little success. Most of my friends were married with friends of my ex-wife, so their wives seemed to not want them to do things anymore with me. My business is booming and firing on all cylinders. I moved into a house in a more rural area just to get away from it all. However, I think this may have been to my detriment, as many women do not want to entertain anything with me because I am 20 miles from the closest major city. I have no problem going in, but they always ask were I am, and when I say where I am (middle NJ), they disappear.
So, I am now I a bit lost at what to do. I seem f*cked in my social life. I've never tried online dating before the last two years and it's really tough. What does a 38 year old male do with this? I mostly work and really have little interest in doing much more. I've been on my own since my teens. Aside from my ex-wife, I really didn't have much of a social life after college. I have no problems entertaining myself or being alone as I am used to it. I sometimes get lonely and wonder where did I go wrong socially and how to fix it. I've tried meeting people for hikes and other things, but they are 40+ miles away and when I show up they say you've drove all the way from middle NJ to here with a puzzled look on their face. I just feel very pathetic after those experiences. To say I am lost in life is an understatement.