One way to reduce stress in any marriage is to make the commitment not to commute. I didn't follow my own advice and it has been stressful. Make sure you marry someone who can be happy independent of you. This "when hubby comes home everything will be allright" stuff will never work. If you are both happy when you are away, you will both be happy when you come home. Some ideas:

1. Leave her a to-do list so that when you get home all the stuff you would of had to do is already done, that leaves more drinking time with the guys.

2. Buy her gifts that are useful like a lawnmower, pool table or somethng thoughtful like a new table saw.

3. Get her an annual bus pass so that when you are gone she will have some way around town.

4. Set up separate checking accounts and always have at least 5 percent of your wages deposited directly into her account. That way, she will never be out of money.

5. On your anniversary, ask the flight attendant if you can have two first class entrees (to go) and take them home. The little woman will thank you for not having to cook.

5. Buy her the automatic dishwashing liguid, rather than have her wash them by hand.

6. For every shirt she washes and irons, reward her with a trip to the thrift store and buy her something nice.


You see, it is the little things in a relationship that determine who makes it and who doesn't. She will quickly adapt to living large as the wife of a big time airline pilot.