“Our Marriage Is Over — Now Get Out of My Room.”
For some unhappy couples, the unfortunate timing of the collapse of their marriage during a slumping economy has left them in a kind of marital purgatory, neither together nor apart, but somewhere in between.
A recent Associated Press story reported on the growing number of divorced couples who’ve chosen to continue living under the same roof indefinitely, not because they want to, but because they can’t sell their house.
Judges and divorce attorneys have noticed the trend most especially in those states hard hit by foreclosures. Now, spats about who gets the master bedroom have replaced arguments over finances after a divorce or splitting the chores. Living in marital limbo can also lead to awkward moments when one part of a divorced couple starts dating again.
Sometimes, a couple that’s headed for divorce has second thoughts after realizing how costly divorce will be, despite the head-shaking disapproval of friends or family. In one case, a spouse moved out of the house after a divorce but moved back in with her ex after running out of money.
Who knows? Maybe family therapists will hail the recession as a blessing in disguise if it prods battling spouses to give it just one more shot.
If things turned sour in your marriage, could you ever imagine your spouse staying on ⎯ as a roommate?
