u/One-Astronomer8493

My spouse and I moving in together coincided w/ my income substantially increasing. So I began thinking abt investing more seriously. And I started, bit-by-bit, investing a small but consistent amount every month.

Now, my spouse and I manage our finances together, and she was a bit skeptical w/ regards to investing and deemed it risky. Which meant I couldn't invest as much as I would have if I were single. (Example: She wants us to buy a car, whereas I don't care much for a car, so now I'm prioritizing saving up for a car more.)

I didn't push back as hard, as I knew she would be more open to it after she sees the dividends coming in.

Then the semiannual payment date came. For context, I have a mixture of stocks w/ monthly, quarterly, and semiannually dividends. So end of the half-year is the biggest dividend month for me.

I showed her the dividends. And boy boy, who would've thunk.

She's still not as enthusiastic abt investing as I am, but now I can actually invest amounts that I feel actually lead me closer to FIRE.

And every quarter, I'll just show her my dividend payouts. Just to keep the fire going.

Dividends are the way 🤞

My GF (28F) and I (28M) were always different. I'm introverted and need plenty of alone time, she gets sad when not seeing me for more than a day. I'm chill, she's tense. I'm live-and-let-live, she's more hands on. I'm progressive, she's leans conservative.

We love each other, but the unnecessary stress and drama that comes w/ the relationship is so draining. She's being so negative and toxic. Makes a big deal if I don't respond to her message in an hour. Even the alone time I could realistically have, I sometimes end up hanging out w/ her anyways bcz she gets lonely.

The big difference though? I'm chill, whereas she's really tense. I adapt to most stuff. Problems rarely make me nervous. I just sorta go w/ the flow, solve issues as they appear, and chill. And it works!

And she's the more tense type. Always complaining, always stressing out and overthinking most random stuff. Had to stop her a few times from starting a ferocious fight w/ our landlord. I really don't want to turn this into post a gossip-fest - she's an amazing woman, and had been gracious to my own flaws - but all that tension and stress and drama drain me, leaving me w/ little to no energy to do the things I love and to "be me".

I'd lived by myself before. And it was great. Now I'm thinking back to those times, wondering whether I'm condemning myself to a life of made-up drama, putting out fires lighted by other people's bulls--t and barely able to take a breath and do the things that make me happy.

It's so frustrating. All my life I sought love, and when I found it, I fantasize abt being single again???

I don't know what will come out of this. Can't imagine my life w/o her, or leaving her. But I can't help fantasize abt being alone again; maybe even remaining single for life.

I feel guilty for thinking this way. Like I'm breaking her trust. (Perhaps I am?) But also angry from all those lose moments of peace, moments that are becoming increasingly rare.

Just spent the weekend playing it.

Saw a picture from a beach shared on Instagram, couple of folks there.

Saw a woman in bikini, and my first thought was:

"Chest and but hole ahead, try tongue."

Hurrah for woman!