Spin for a Mate

I started thinking about this concept today, having lunch with two of my co-workers.  The one co-worker (a guy) has been with his wife 19 years and (appears to be) happily married.  Co-worker number two (a woman), has just been dumped by asshole boyfriend after eight months.

So there I am, eating my leftovers, across from two people who couldn’t be in more different situations.  We have the guy who is either truly in love with his wife or miserable but doesn’t want to leave and the bitter woman who thinks all men suck because her boyfriend claims he “wasn’t ready for a commitment.”

As I’m listening to her talk about the breakup and watching him burying his face in his lunch, I come up with a “brilliant” idea.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could rotate mates like the spinning wheel at the meat raffle.  Get sick of this boyfriend/husband, spin the wheel, get a new one.

Now, I’m not condoning cheating or quitting relationships, I’m just saying it’s hard to be in a relationship for eight months, let alone 19 or 50 years.  Are we really meant to be with one person? I love the concept of having one person to be there to love and rely on until you or they croak, but is that realistic today?

I remember being a kid and watching my grandparents together.  They would seem to be happy but at the end of the evening, grandpa would go to the man cave or his bedroom, while grandma went to her bedroom or the living room.

Back then, people stayed together because of the kids, religious beliefs, economics, social stigma, etc.  Nowadays, those things still have some influence, but not enough for most people to keep a miserable marriage intact.

I’m not saying divorce is right or the way to go, but I feel life is short, and why be with someone who isn’t going to make you happy.  Are we meant to be with a person for 50 years?  Are there several “right” people for us?

I don’t know what the right answer is, but if I come up with the butt roast on the meat raffle wheel, I’m going to take a chance and spin again to find the filet mignon.