For my boyfriend of two years, playing baseball throughout the summer is a priority.

He’s regularly attended a New York State weekend tournament and I’ve loved the trip with him since we started dating.

My cousin’s getting married during this year’s tournament. It seemed I’d have to sacrifice the trip or the wedding.

I asked what he’d do if it were his cousin involved. He said he’d attend the wedding.

So now I'm upset because I feel like I’m not a priority to him (nor my family), though he says I am.

He said if it means that much to me, we can go but I know he's not happy about it.

I feel it should be somewhat important to him too, since it's important to me.

We’re both 30 and talk about marriage.

This is making me unsure if I should be re-evaluating the relationship.

I don't want to be without him but it's really bothering me.

Stressed and Upset

This isn’t a deal-breaker if you both learn from it.

Lesson: He said if it was that important to you, he’d go to the wedding. That’s when you should’ve hugged him, said what a wonderful person he is. Then never question him about it again.

OR, you could start a more independent, yet still co-operative relationship – he goes to the ball game, you go to the wedding, and you’re both satisfied though it’s not perfect.

It’s a one-off solution. When and if you marry, many other accommodations to each other will also work.

Compromising appropriately is the key to a mutually happy relationship.

My friend lives in a bubble of "I don't care" - unwilling to learn about her phone, iPad, and politics, even her own family finances.

She’s late-50s but looks older (a sun-worshipper who doesn't use sunscreen). Her husband of many years is 50 and looks 40.

She puts on her pajamas at 10:30 pm, he’s online till 3am or 4am.

He’s tried several times to talk to me about frustrations with his wife.

I’ve said he should be talking to HER! I know how his complaining ultimately leads to "lack of sex" whining.

She thinks they love each other and that's enough for a marriage. But I don't see them lasting. He works outside of their city.

Currently, she holds the home, his son, age 19, and his mother. When those two are gone, I don't see him being in her life.

Her husband’s freewheeling bugs me. Am I too judgmental?

Future Train Wreck?

She hasn’t complained or asked for advice, and you have only seeming clues but no evidence of his cheating.

You’d have to be her most trusted friend for her to accept that she’s heading for a divorce.

You may be correct. But if she’s not ready to listen, it may end your friendship.

The safer route for getting some of the message across is to ask questions that cause her to think.

Example: Have a private “sex” talk – comment on the changes at this age, how they’re affecting you and your husband, what you’ve read… and ask how she and her husband are staying connected through intimacy.

You can even comment that some men’s needs and wants are even stronger at this stage.

Good friends should be able to have  “girl talk” without sounding critical.

Should you warn her that her marriage is in train-wreck mode?

No. Only if she opens that direct discussion herself. Or you have real evidence.

I'm 25, living in Toronto for two weeks now. Where can I meet single girls in the city?

I live downtown, so I’ll likely only see people within very close proximity even though the city’s huge!

Got Tips?

There are local meet-up groups in many cities around the world.  They’re based on peoples’ interests in hobbies, entertainment, learning, socializing… not just on meeting single girls.

Not all single females are open to being hit on by a stranger. But those who share your same interest and go to a meet-up event are already in a friendly, approachable mode.

Also, people there who aren’t single women may know some and, having met you at the group, can give a good recommendation if you’re friendly and open.

In Toronto alone, there are meet-up groups for singles, techies, soccer fans, movie buffs, etc. An easy online search will list events, meeting places, and times.