"John B." wrote in message
...

On Sun, 9 Dec 2012 21:40:17 -0600, "Edward Dolan"
wrote:

"John B." wrote in message
.. .
[...]

I can't comment on people who take several weeks to be away from their
wives as I really can't imagine it. Perhaps I'm old fashioned by my
marriages have been more a matter of forming a partnership than some
sort of adversary sort of thing.

I don’t know of anyone who gets married for an adversarial relationship.
But
the fact is that men and women are very different. There are damn few
things
that men and women can do together and enjoy equally. Once this is
recognized, there is nothing wrong or untoward in letting one's mate do her
or his thing without interference. The family that stays together overly
much is destined for a shipwreck.

When it comes to cycling I recommend that men cycle with other men and that
women cycle with other women. That is the only way it is ever equally
enjoyable for both sexes. Tandem cycling is an abomination and was most
likely an invention of the Devil!

I am imparting this knowledge to you from 75 years of being not only a
bachelor, but a hermit besides. Only us hermits know anything worth
knowing.
Everyone else has been corrupted by too much human contact. Experience is
an
ugly thing and never worth the bother.

Ed Dolan the Great

Well your 75 years of no experience is hardly evidence of a great
knowledge of the state.

Experience is vastly overrated.

Your comment that "The family that stays together overly
much is destined for a shipwreck" may be true in Modern America but it
certainly wasn't the original concept. Originally marriage served the
purpose of (hopefully) ensured that any kids that the husband had to
support through their formative years were his and secondly it
provided a unit, call it partnership if you want, that was far more
capable of coping with life than a single person. Try going out and
plowing 40 acres and than coming home and doing the washing, ironing
and cook supper all by your self.

You have an old fashion idea of marriage. What women want are children. It
is a boon if they can also find some male boob to support them, but it is
not necessary anymore. Various units of government will support her and her
brood. Of course, under such conditions, the kids all grow up to be
criminals and society goes straight to perdition.

Hells Bells, marriage is no longer between one man and one woman in several
states. Marriage can now be anything you want it to be. But the fact is
that traditional marriage is going the way of the Dodo Bird.

Marriage is a balancing act. Too much togetherness is not good nor is too
much separation. Husbands and wives can do things separately (such as
cycling) as long as you meet up at the end of the day or the week. But I
still think separate vacations of more than a week are somewhat risky.

Thus spake Zarathustra!

Ed Dolan the Great