There are no endings, only new beginnings....

Yesterday, I signed a Petition for the Dissolution of Marriage, to be filed with the courts in a couple of days. In approximately six months, it'll be finalized. I'd really have preferred to schedule the final hearing sooner, but this way I can keep her on my employer's medical insurance for a little while. I'm such a nice fool.

The "temporary, non-modifiable, rehabilitative alimony" also terminates in May, or she gets an income/disability, whichever happens first.

With luck, she won't draw out the moving-out process. I'm looking forward to being able to clean the house from top to bottom, and to it actually staying clean when I'm not home. I'm looking forward to two fewer cats, and NO iguanas.

I'm looking forward to not dreading coming home. I'm looking forward to not having an emotional vampire of a millstone around my neck. I'm looking forward to the potential of healthy relationships with healthy people that actually like themselves and (at the very least) have some degree of personal responsibility.

This has been in the works since August. Thank you, everyone who's listened to me gripe and complain, given me words of encouragement, and especially supported me through this. I'd forgotten what it was like to have actual adult conversations, to say nothing of relationships.

Perhaps sooner rather than later I'll rediscover just how good sex can be. I can hope and dream, can't I?

I'm finally looking forward to the rest of my life. Anyone want to help me celebrate in a wholly inappropriate debauched manner? Or at least share a sushi boat. Or something.