DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: My girlfriend reports to basic training next month, and I’m having a hard time knowing what to do. Some of my friends think we should break up, since she’s going to be away for at least five years. We’ve been together since sophomore year of high school and I really love her, but I don’t know if we can survive so long apart.

Is it cleaner to just break up now, keep in touch, and see what happens in five years? --- NOT SURE WHAT TO DO

DEAR NOT SURE WHAT TO DO: Military service can be as hard on those left behind as it is for those who go in. You mention what your friends’ opinions are, but what about your girlfriend’s? Have you spoken with her about what she thinks is the best way to handle your relationship at this point? Remember, she’s the one leaving everything familiar behind, and from what I’ve heard of bootcamp, having a good support system from back home can be a critical component of a recruit’s success.

Talk to her and work it out for yourselves. You may find that for the time being, playing it by ear is the way to go. Whatever you decide, please let it be your and your girlfriend’s decision — not your friends’.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: The man who owns the house across from ours rents out his house, which is divided into three apartments. The place only has at most four or five legal bedrooms, and we’ve counted at least eight cars connected to the house, taking up more than a fair share of the on-street parking. Ours is an older neighborhood and most of the homes, like ours, don’t have driveways. If we come home later than usual, my husband and I have to end up parking a block or more away, because all the spots on our block, including those right in front of our house are already taken by the people from across the street.

This isn’t the only rental on the block, and we knew that was the case when we bought in the neighborhood, but all the other landlords follow the zoning ordinances for maximum occupancy, so although there may be two or three cars per house, they generally manage to avoid parking in front of other people’s houses.

As I said, we knew the kind of renters’ paradise we moved into, and it was the trade-off we decided to make to be able to afford our first house. But the parking problem is really getting on my nerves, especially if I get home late and have to walk more than a block by myself.

Do we say something to the tenants or to the landlord? --- NEED A PLACE TO PARK

DEAR NEED A PLACE TO PARK: Even if you spoke to the tenants, and even if they agreed to spread their cars over a couple of blocks so you and your husband could have space nearer or in front of your house, that would only potentially limit other homeowners from access to the on-street parking in front of their houses. But you could give it a try.

Approaching the landlord may be a better move. Giving the benefit of the doubt, he or she may not be aware of how many people are actually living in the house, and your raising the probability of occupancy code violations might give you a little leverage — if the landlord doesn’t want to end up in trouble with whoever regulates the housing in your town.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I come from a very politically active family. While I’m grateful to my parents for instilling a passion for being involved, I know it bugs them that I don’t align with the same party they do.

Because of their involvement over the years, they were able to secure me a summer internship (COVID permitting) in the office of a friend of theirs who won re-election for her senate seat. It’s a terrific opportunity, but I am conflicted about its being in “the other camp”.

Am I nuts to pass up this chance over political principles? --- IN THE OTHER CAMP

DEAR IN THE OTHER CAMP: Unless you can get a similar opportunity with an elected official in your preferred party, I say why not take the job offered you? Being in the office of a senator could put you in a position to meet a large variety of people on both sides of the aisle. And if you find you’re rubbing elbows with the enemy, you still should be in the way to gain valuable experience, make potentially useful connections, and maybe even broaden your own political horizons.