As independent as I like to think myself, I definitely have maintained throughout my adult years some concept of fairytale romance.

I was first married from age 21-27, divorced, immediately into another head-over-heels romance with a man who was (is) perfect for me. I knew it, he knew it, but he couldn't commit - he was a bachelor true - not the kind who goes out partying with his guy friends and plays around, but the kind who stays home and builds stuff and keeps a clean house and is happy reading for hours and being by himself. It was really hard for me for a long time. We broke up right before 9/11. It was so hard and I was very unhappy and started drinking heavily. I dated around, but he just stayed single and happy in his world (although he says now it was the loneliest and saddest time of his life.) I started dating another guy but could not "concentrate" on the relationship because I was always thinking about what I lost. Finally, in 2003, after a family emergency that brought us back together, Mr. Indy and I were (think Peaches n Herb) re-united. I quit smoking and drinking soon after and I think he saw in that my commitment to being a healthier person for him to spend his life with, and he asked me to marry him in 06. We got married two weeks later.

I have to say, I wake up every morning thanking my lucky stars. I get teary-eyed thinking about what might have happened in my life - without his companionship and support in everything (the drinking problems - he always stuck it out.) He is truly the perfect person for me - we both have our quiet and our privacy but we really dig being with each other. He is everything I could want in a guy - he's strong, healthy, bicycles, can fix stuff, likes to travel, loves animals, loves books and old antiques, and cooks and cleans up after himself. He steers clear of decisions regarding my daughter, but offers support when I need it as a parent.

I know this all sounds like one of those corny radio shout-outs.

But, for me, this life and this relationship suits me to a T. He had the patience to stick it out, and I had the persistance to keep him in my life, in one way or another. And it never would have happened had I not married the first husband, as part of the reason for the breakdown of the first marriage led me to the conversations that opened up the door to the second.

Everyone is different.
That's my story.