DEAR ABBY: I have been living with a very nice man for 28 years, and at one point we were married. He lives in my house and drives my car. I do the cooking, cleaning, laundry and household chores. He does small repairs around the house, keeps the irrigation system in good repair and contributes $600 a month for expenses.
He goes to visit his family and friends in the West every summer for two weeks or more. This year he told me he was not coming back because he's broke. I was upset to say the least. He did come back, and now at 75, I think I will end up supporting him for the rest of my life.
Abby, should I bite the bullet, say "It's only money" and support him, or should I kiss him goodbye and wish him well? -- UNDECIDED IN FLORIDA
DEAR UNDECIDED: Have you kept him in your house all these years because of his handyman skills and the $7,200 a year he gave you? If the answer is yes, then out he goes. However, if you cooked for him, cleaned for him, washed his dirty underwear and socks and slept with him because you LOVED him -- then I think the pain of separation would make your life misery and you should continue accepting him for who he is and let him stay.