Annie’s Mailbox: Husband stuck in bachelor mode

Dear Annie: I recently married a man who has never been married before, although he lived with a woman for 15 years. They never had children, and “Vic” cheated on her for years. He paid for everything, and she had a free ride. He essentially paid her off to leave.

I have three grown children from a previous marriage. After our wedding two months ago, we planned on moving into my house until I can sell it. (Part of my divorce agreement is to split the proceeds of a sale when our youngest child turns 18.) Vic’s house is in a rather scary neighborhood. It has a structural defect and won’t sell for what he owes the bank. I arranged for reliable renters, but four days before they were to move in, Vic backed out of the deal. He said he needed more time and didn’t want to resent me for making him move and then move again once my house sells.

Vic promised to move out of his place on Aug. 1, but didn’t, so I’ve been living there in order to be with him. We both agreed to get a new place when my house sells, and he promised this arrangement would be temporary. I really hate his rundown neighborhood, and worse, his ex lives two blocks away.

When we are together, he treats me very well, but I worry that he’ll never move out of his place. Could he have terminal bachelor disease? I am fantasizing about selling my place, taking the check and driving to Vegas to open my own business. I love Vic, but I didn’t bargain to live the rest of my life in this lousy neighborhood. – Unhappy in Rhode Island

Dear Unhappy: Set a time limit on staying at Vic’s place – perhaps three months after your house is sold. But don’t wait until the sale to start looking at other neighborhoods – that way Vic can see the benefits of a nicer home in a better area. Help him pack up his stuff so that his house appears less comforting and more transitional. A new marriage and a new home can be traumatizing for some people, and you have to give Vic time to adjust.