So, my spouse and I have been separated for about 7 years. Before that we separated in summer of 2013, and again in 2015. We live apart, obviously, and date other people. It’s really difficult for strangers to accept. For example, when I’m seen out in public with a male friend, people try to call me a cheater. No, I’m not. My spouse and I are separated. He told me in 2015 that he wished he could have a mail order wife from Eastern Europe, or Russia. I get it. I’m not what he wants. I actually prefer being alone, but sometimes I enjoy spending time with someone else. I just wish society understood before launching an attack on my life. It is what it is. C’est la vie.

  • ParabolicMotion@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    0·
    6 个月前

    We haven’t lived together for about seven years. Since we are not legally divorced, I still have the same last name. I had my last name changed after marriage and it is an unusual last name. It’s his last name. I am constantly grilled by people over the spelling of my last name, its nationality, and why I changed my maiden name after marriage. Then that usually leads to discussions about my husband and where he is now. From there, I quickly become this outcast that people are suddenly gossiping about. I almost wish I had never legally changed my last name. It would have avoided a lot of these issues if I had just kept my maiden name.

    • tacosanonymous@lemm.eeEnglish
      0·
      6 个月前

      I would lie or be vague (ie- I don’t know, etc) or just tell them I don’t want to talk about it.

      If whatever makes you happy is enough for you, don’t let anyone get you down.

          • ParabolicMotion@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
            0·
            6 个月前

            He kept refusing to attend the last judgement for it. The judge threw out the case both times. He would then contact me and ask to get back together, saying he wanted to work things out. We would get back together and then he would later announce he wanted to separate, again. Each time I filed for divorce, it would cost about $465 in paperwork. We even met with an arbitrator to divide our assets. He was willing to be there for that. He would always skip the final meeting with the judge, though.

            • ArbiterXero@lemmy.worldEnglish
              0·
              6 个月前

              Eventually you can get the divorce in his absence I think?

              Or failing that, get him punished for failure to attend

              • ParabolicMotion@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
                0·
                6 个月前

                I have to look into that. After our last separation, he didn’t want to contribute anything to the children. I was financially struggling, with a house payment and bills to pay on one income. I eventually left my job to join the military; hoping for a better job, and a chance to start over with my kids. It put a lot of stress on my parents, who originally offered to help me. Recruiters denied me over a past surgery, because I still have a metal clip inside of my body. My parents became enraged and basically cut contact with me for a while. Since I was left with hourly job positions after that, and huge amounts of debt to pay, I filed a report for spousal abandonment. I don’t know if they ever found him. The last time I contacted him, he was letting his friends use his identity. They were using his car, his wallet, and even his email to reply to my messages. One of them sent me a selfie so I would know that it wasn’t my husband.