DEAR ABBY: I am medically retired and have mobility issues, so I'm unable to be active or socialize. I don't have many friends outside my family, so I spend many hours alone at home. My wife is an elementary school teacher. My two youngest children are in high school.

My wife is an excellent teacher, and I appreciate everything she does for our family and her students. When she returns home in the evening, she has to grade papers, create lesson plans and dozens of other things that need preparation. I understand this, but when she's finished, she spends the rest of the evenings or weekends on social media.

Trying to have a conversation with her is almost impossible because she's not listening or interacting with me. I get short "yes" or "no" answers or constant "uh-huh" replies. I've tried talking with her about the fact I feel marginalized, but she just gets angry.

It's not easy being married to a physically handicapped person, I know. Am I being overly sensitive? How do I express to her the loneliness I feel and the longing for a connection with my wife? -- LONELY HUSBAND IN UTAH

DEAR LONELY HUSBAND: It may not be easy. You may need help getting through to her. Tell your wife that you would like to have some marriage counseling because you feel all alone in this marriage. However, if she refuses, consider some counseling for yourself. Developing other social outlets online, as she appears to be doing, also could be beneficial.

Many communities provide transportation for disabled individuals so they can get out of their homes. Depending upon your physical impairment, you may be interested in exploring what's available in your area.

DEAR ABBY: I'm back at work after being a stay-at-home mom for the last decade. My job is in public schooling, and I earn less than $25,000 a year. My husband works for a Fortune 500 company and earns more than $120,000 per year. I understand that we have debt, and I'm willing to contribute, but he keeps my paycheck -- all of it.

To be honest, even as hard as he works and as much as he takes care of and provides for our family, I am not happy. It's not that I plan to leave, but without my own money, I don't even have an option to plan for the future. How can I convince him to allow me the money I earn, while assuring him that I'll help to pay down our debt? -- WORKING FOR NOTHING IN OHIO

DEAR WORKING: Your husband appears to be deeply insecure and controlling. You are a wife, not an indentured servant. You shouldn't have to ask, beg or be required to convince him that you should have money you are earning. Tell him that, and also explain how much of your money you want to put aside in an account of your own. If he refuses, suggest the two of you get mediation from a licensed family therapist. If he refuses to go with you, go alone. You may also want to consult an attorney who specializes in family law about what your rights as a wife are in the state of Ohio. Please don't put it off.

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I met our neighbor "Maggie" one day while she was walking her dog. She has since befriended me via additional meetings on the street and walks about once a week. She's 68, has been looking unsuccessfully for a job for three years and has financial difficulties. I have given advice to her on job searches.

I have noticed that she has taken pictures with me in them and pictures of the front of our house. I recently came home late, and she seemed to be lurking near the front of our house. She has asked about our alarm system and when we will be out of town. It is starting to freak me out. How do I unload this person and determine whether she is just troubled or dangerous? -- CREEPED OUT IN THE EAST

DEAR CREEPED OUT: Start being less available for those walks. Vary your schedule so she won't run into you as often. Use your alarm system religiously and install cameras in your home. In light of the crime situation in many communities, this is prudent, regardless of your concern about this neighbor, who may be harmless but whose behavior seems odd.

DEAR ABBY: When I am planning an event or making reservations, I have a friend who always wants to know who is being invited. She also wants to dictate how many guests I should invite. If she arrives late, she gets upset if I haven't saved her a seat next to me. She's very high maintenance.

We have been friends for many years, and I don't want to lose that, but she's getting on my last nerve. She makes any event that I plan nerve-wracking. I have tried talking to her about it, but her response is that she's sorry I don't understand her! Please help. -- MISERABLE PARTY PLANNER

DEAR PLANNER: You may want to maintain the relationship, but don't you think it's time you drew a firm line with this nervy, pushy woman? It doesn't take a genius to "understand" her. She is controlling and insecure, and you have allowed it.

The next time you plan a party, leave her off the guest list. You can be sure word will get back to her, and when it does, she will ask you why. When it happens, be prepared to calmly tell her exactly what you have written to me. You say you are down to your "last nerve." Believe me, telling her calmly is better than erupting.

DEAR ABBY: I've been with a couple of different women and every time I take off my clothes, I get laughed at and told to get dressed. Why is that? -- IT'S A MYSTERY IN INDIANA

DEAR MYSTERY: You shouldn't be taking your clothes off with anyone unless you are absolutely sure that seeing more of you is welcome. That someone would laugh at you is insensitive and unkind. These are not the type of women you should be pursuing. Better luck next time.

DEAR ABBY: My first long-term girlfriend ghosted me. She died soon afterward, and I'm left with a gaping lack of closure. I'm 19. We had dated for four years and we were best friends. We didn't live together, but planned to in the coming months. I intended to marry her.

One day out of the blue, she cut me off. She had been acting depressed, but convinced me she was fine when I (gingerly) confronted her about it. She ghosted me the next day. She blocked me, changed her number and refused to speak to me when I showed up at her house. Everything to my knowledge had been fine between us.

Weeks later, she had a terrible accident at work, and died in the hospital. I learned about it only afterward, from her mother. Her parents have denied me access to her room, to some shared personal and sentimental belongings and wouldn't let me adopt her pets, which were sent to the pound. Most painful for me, they asked that I not come to her funeral. Her family believes that because we weren't married and we hadn't been dating at the time of her death that I had no place with her things after her death, even though we were best friends who spent almost half a decade together.

I never got to speak to her, say goodbye or receive any answers. My family isn't being kind about the situation, either. They feel the same way as her family does. I feel like a widow. I have many questions that will always be left unanswered. How do I move on from this? -- MOURNING IN NORTH CAROLINA

DEAR MOURNING: Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss. It is regrettable that your family hasn't been supportive during this difficult time. A way to move forward would be through grief counseling. Your doctor (or your family physician) should be able to give you a referral. However, if that's not possible, consult your religious adviser or even the funeral director who handled your girlfriend's service, because that person may have a resource for you.

DEAR ABBY: I'm a 69-year-old divorced female. I dated a guy 40 years ago for about three years. I broke up with him because he wanted to be with me 24/7. I'm classic rock; he's totally country. Music is important to me. (I play piano.)

He was a great guy who was always there for me. We enjoyed a lot of vacations together. When we broke up, he said he wouldn't call me. Three years later he called to tell me he was getting married, and asked me what had caused our breakup. I told him to give his fiancee some space.

Now he's divorced and messaging me. He says he wants me back, he has never stopped loving me and is more in love with me now than ever. I haven't responded. What should I do? -- TORN UP IN MICHIGAN

DEAR TORN UP: How do you feel about him? If you think with the passage of time you could be happy with him, agree to see him. If not, tell him you felt smothered by him when the two of you dated, and you have no interest in resuscitating a dead romance.