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.
Eventually you can get the divorce in his absence I think?
Or failing that, get him punished for failure to attend
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.
Thank you. Things have improved. It’s a work in progress at this point, in terms of debt and employment.