<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by lonelyinlove:<BR><B>emp<BR>What makes you think it's gone beyond an online friendship?</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>The exchange that took place on e-mail. I read the e-mails. Sharing of deep emotional thoughts and discussion of sexual fantasies. I don't consider those things to be indicative of a simple "friendship." An update--we went into counseling with Steve which is having a positive impact, and my H seems to have ratcheted down the relationship.<BR>

I agree. We had just been in our newly built house for 3 months, when his "unrest, unhappiness" started. Six months after that, he had a huge blow-up with his Mom and started drinking (I didn't know). <P>Later, he told me that at the time of the blow-up, something "clicked." From then on, EVERYTHING made him unhappy and he just wanted out...no responsibility...he wanted a break...a new life. That's when the affair started and I got lumped into the "everything" that was bad.<P>Two fellow workmates of mine (both women) are facing the same thing. One's H was lost at sea overnight (with her crazy out of her mind searching for him) and 3 months later, he left the house and filed for divorce.<P>The other's H's business went thru a big shake up and her marriage got crushed in that.<P>Weird. And even tho women may not be more "stable," I do believe that we have more endurance....a greater ability to endure pain and change. Just my opinion.<P><p>[This message has been edited by Mrs.O (edited June 07, 2000).]