Lack Of Space, The Final Frontier

I need about three nights a week to myself or I feel smothered. Last night, my sweet new boyfriend wanted to hang out for the fifth night in a row. I told him I needed some down-time, and he said okay, but sounded hurt.

--Independent Woman

For many people, love is finding somebody, then doing whatever they can to see that they never leave that person's side. That did work for Romeo and Juliet. Then again, they were fictional. And dead. Explain to your boyfriend that you need down-time because you need down-time; you've always been that way, and it has nothing to do with him. Set aside certain nights as date nights so he won't be standing there staring up at the tower wondering when you'll let down your hair. We all know that endless togetherness can start to feel rather, well, endless; we just hate to admit it. Help him see that what's truly romantic is having the chance to miss each other, and he just might be the guy who inspires you to blurt out, "You had me at 'Goodbye, see ya in a coupla days.'"