Ironically, one of the reasons I wanted to get divorced is because I was heading to retirement (I’m almost 60) and the abuse was just getting worse and worse. I imagined living in a too-expensive apartment in Florida and having my wife throw me out of the house every couple of weeks when she was in a rage. No thanks!

Two incomes? My wife spent four incomes. Again, heading into retirement age with a mountain of debt and we’d never be able to retire anyway. Not a lot of security in that. At least the collection agencies have stopped calling me and my credit rating is getting healthier again. It was nice to go on so many nice vacations but we really couldn’t afford it.

Sure, it’s lonely, but I can now speak to, and make plans with, friends and family without having my wife scream at me about it. It’s so much better to be free than to have the kind of conpanionship that leaves you isolated and fearful in your own home. What kind of life is that?