Q: Do most couples, when they get into their more comfortable years, still do a lot of things together? I am still madly in love with my husband, but we never do anything together. I have my friends and hobbies, he has his friends and hobbies, and never the two shall meet. Is that normal? I kind of want to do things together, but I don't know what to do. Any suggestions? A: Never fear. You are normal. I know a lot of seasoned married couples who don't spend much of their downtime doing activities together. It doesn't mean you are growing apart, just that you have different tastes and likes and are comfortable enough with each other to be apart. That said, I think trying to find a few thin

Q: I feel so old-school even asking this, but do couples need to have the same religious beliefs anymore to make it work? My boyfriend and I don't really believe the same spiritually and I wonder if it will become an issue for us in the future. Does he need to convert to Catholicism before I can consider settling down with him? A: There is no right or wrong answer to this question, nor is there one answer that is going to work in every situation. Religion and spirituality means different things to every person, and how that effects your intimate relationships really depends on you. For instance, are you a weekly, daily or holiday Mass attendee? Do you go to confession? Do you pray the ro

Q: My boyfriend and I have been talking about marriage for at least a year now. We know we want to get married, and I feel like we are ready. Actually, I feel like we have been ready for months, and I thought he felt the same way, but still no ring. I am trying not to read into it, but I am starting to worry maybe he is having second thoughts about wanting to marry me. We used to talk more about getting married, but all that conversation seems to have stopped. So am I freaking out for no reason or do I have a boyfriend who is about to turn and flee? A: While I try to talk you off the ledge, consider this: Every guy wants to take his girlfriend by super surprise when he asks her to marry h

Q: I have a super tough decision to make. I am currently dating a girl that I would consider my best friend in the world. She is great. We have been dating for nearly four years. There isn't much wrong with our relationship except one thing: I am pretty sure we aren't actually in love with each other. So here comes the tough decision part. Do we break up because we can never see ourselves actually getting married, or do we stay together because we fear losing the single most important person in our life? I don't know what to do. I can't lose her, but I don't want to ruin our chances of actually finding someone we are in love with. A: Wow. Seriously, seriously hard question. Hard situation

Q: I have been reading a lot lately in the media and other places about the "seven-year itch" that they say married couples get. Some "experts" say you can't avoid it, some say it doesn't even take that long to feel it. My husband and I haven't been married seven years yet, but some days I feel like we are growing apart. I still love him, but at times I feel like we have less in common than we did when we got married. How can we avoid growing farther apart or splitting for good? A: Although I am sure you know this, let me remind you: Marriage is extremely hard work. Couples who believe love is just going to happen for them, and that it will get stronger over time simply by virtue of them

Q: I dated my ex-boyfriend for nearly three years, but we kind of mutually decided that we didn't have a future, so we parted ways. We have stayed in touch and have no hard feelings toward each other. We have gone out a few times with mutual friends and we always have a good time. Occasionally he'll call me if he wants to talk to an old friend. Anyway, I have started seeing someone new, who I really like, but he doesn't like the fact that I am friends with my ex. I want to stay friends with my ex, but I really like the guy I am with now. Is it wrong for me to want to stay friends with my ex? Or does my new boyfriend have a point? A: I see this situation a lot and I think the answer is alm

Over 200 people gathered Wednesday night]at the California State Capitol for a rally and march which marked the first anniversary of the passage of Proposition 8. The event, “A Day of Smiles, Tears and Action,” was led by Equality Action NOW, a grassroots civil rights organization, along with several supporting organizations. The event also followed relevant elections in Maine and Washington on Tuesday. In Washington, voters approved Referendum 71, keeping a law that expanded state benefits to same-sex domestic partners. In Maine, voters rejected a law passed by the state's legislature and signed by the governor that would have allowed same-sex marriages. Maine is now the 31st state to r

 The AP is reporting that a pair of college students have proposed a ballot measure that will replace the word "marriage" with the term "domestic partnership" in all state laws.   Secretary of State Debra Bowen said today that supporters can begin collecting the 700,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot.  Domestic partnerships will retain all the rights of marriage, and all couples will be eligable for domestic partnership, regardless of sexual orientation.   Is this a good or bad idea?  Please express yourself.