She's a keeper

wife in a healthy relationship, looking at her sweatpantsed husband: heavy breathing Oh my!

never underestimate the desire of some women for married man. I had a friend once tell me shw only dated married man because she knew he was good enough. No need to say the friendship didn't last long
- This is a real phenomenon. Men are more attractive when they're already in a relationship.
  There are similar psychological effects that exist elsewhere. A job applicant is more attractive if they currently have a job. A scholarship application is more attractive if you list your existing scholarships. The effect is basically: someone else found you desirable, and therefore I must also.
  The effect is so strong that it encourages people to fake it to gain the benefits.
- It’s like when children grab the toys of others. They don’t want to ~~play~~ ~~with~~ keep the toy, the fact of the toy being possessed is what makes the toy desirable. The grass is always married on the other side of the fence.
  Edit: choice of wordS

In a sense of understanding the wife's perspective, proximity is just as important as the other major factors that affect how likely a relationship is to begin. There was a cool study of college students who lived in an apartment style building that showed you were most likely to begin a relationship with the person who had a door immediately next to yours. The only exception to that was for the person who had a door immediately next to the mailboxes. Proximity matters because it lets another person see you enough to form opinions based on a lot of interactions, and we all know someone who 'shines' despite their physical looks.

Plot twist: new neighbor was wearing a shirt that read, "I <3 dad bods," and was already flirting (asking for help moving boxes /eyeroll) with the guy in sweatpants.

Really sad that so many people are closed-minded about relationships with mailboxes.
- You wouldn't believe how many people go postal once they see my tramp stamp.
- Yeah, some people think there should only be relationships between mailboxes and femailboxes.
If someone has to tell their spouse not to break their martial vows, or even feels like they have to say it, that couple should go to therapy.
- I would bet the entirety of my yearly pay that it was absolutely, 100% a joke and they have a perfectly healthy relationship.
- I agree, martial vows are sacred! It's not worth the fighting.
- Or you know they have a healthy relationship and joke a lot.
asking for help moving boxes /eyeroll
Just as an aside, I would do this regardless of my interest. If I’m moving and there’s someone watching, I’m going to try to enlist help. They can say no and I won’t be offended in any way, but I’ll give it a shot, because moving sucks and it’s faster with more hands. I won’t gush about how strong the movers are or anything, but I will offer them beer/pizza afterwards.
- I more meant that sometimes requests for help are seen as flirting, when they're about as casual and commonplace as can be.
- I mean, come on. Being not too proud to ask for help, allowing someone else to feel useful and genuinely being appreciative of their help? That's pretty fucking hot to be honest. Maybe I'm a slut for being made to feel useful and appreciated.
That study seems kinda backwards. I lived next to my future wife in student apartments, but that’s because we liked each other and intentionally chose the arrangement.
- The apartments were randomly assigned. Do you know many freshmen who got to choose their dorms? Once I was a sophomore+, I did, but that first year in university-run student housing I didn't get to pick.

Me: "I'll do my best but you know how hard it is to resist this." Gestures at dad bod

Wife: "Oh, I'm well aware."

Me: 😘

Wife: 😏... 🍆👉👌

MY DUMB LUCK: does it anyway somehow

ALSO MY DUMB LUCK: wife is into it

Well, at least the wife thinks highly of you.

We usually say to each other....don't bring home nasty STDs. Even though we both know....way to busy to fuck someone else.

My brother in Christ, you do not realize how down bad the 20-something girls with daddy issues are.

My best friend hooked an old guy without custody of his kids. They're moving in together next week.

Edit: My point is that people like her exist and have their own preferences. Unfortunately the vast majority of men she goes out with are creeps. I'm going to support my friend, but I'm also doing a very in depth background check as soon as I learn his last name. The overwhelming majority of men interested in much younger women are creeps.

Hope they find happiness together!
That is super gross.
- There were certain expectations as to social norms and etiquette held by buttnugget@lemmy.world.
My best friend, now 45 once told me that i was the only guy she was ever attacked to her that is actually younger than her. I didn't really think anything about it, untill she told me that her first real boyfriend was 45 when she was 19. And her boyfriends only got older

No guarantees. I know what I'm working with here, babe.

"You never told me not to!"

Hey sweatpants can do some work. Are they grey?

Also 40s can be good-looking

And "fat" is pretty subjective; people with average bodytypes can be very successful with confidence

Don’t forget that in places like the UK and the US, average body types are quite fat.

if the wife even has to say that, how insecure is that lol

I assumed it was a joke
- No, it was very serious. Big red flag. He should hit a lawyer, delete a gym, and social media up.

I'm a guy and Idk about this sweatpants things, pls someone give me some context.

Aka "jogging pants", "lounge pants", "tracksuit bottoms", "trackies", "tracky daks", or "trackpants".
They're a kind of soft trousers or loose leggings worn typically for comfort or athletic purposes.