SHE’S A NEAT FREAK; YOU’RE A SLOB. Quarreling over whether that hair in the shower is hers or yours is a never-ending civil war. Choose your battles carefully: Tell her you’ll keep your crap out of the mutual living areas, but reserve the right to throw anything dirty, sweaty, or broken into your own closet. In the meantime, try to “aim” more carefully, and clean those little hairs out of the drain—come on, you know they’re yours.
SCENARIO 2: SHE’S A HOMEBODY; YOU LIKE TO GO OUT. Your girlfriend is addicted to late-night TV, and you haven’t seen your friends in months—something’s got to give. If your social habits are pulling you in different directions, designate two date nights per week. Allow her to pick one destination while you pick the other. She’ll get to order in takeout and lounge around while you fulfill your need for human contact.
SCENARIO 3: SHE WANTS THE PALMS; YOU CRAVE THE WILD. Pampered women and the woods typically don’t mix. However, you can lure her into sharing your favorite campsite by taking baby steps. Instead of a full-on camping trip, introduce her to an afternoon of fishing one day, then graduate later on to one night in a tent. Put the kibosh on complaining with several bottles of wine, gourmet food, and passion. Return the favor with a weekend getaway of her choice.
SCENARIO 4: SHE DEMANDS CONSTANT AFFECTION; YOU DON’T WANT TO GIVE IT. Your girlfriend loves you, and she loves to show you how much—especially in public. To ensure she keeps her hands to herself, tell a little white lie: Say a client spotted the two of you making out in Starbucks and you’re horribly embarrassed. Get her to compromise by keeping the PDA to hand- holding and cheek-kissing.
SCENARIO 5: SHE MAKES BANK, YOU PULL IN $10 AN HOUR. So she makes more money than you do. While that may make you uncomfortable, revel in the fact that you don’t have to worry about “taking care of her.” She wants to pay $50 a week for a blowout? That’s her prerogative. The best part: You can be sure she’s not a gold digger and that she actually likes you for your rock-hard body and dirty mind.
