Reply #197: Having been married twice... [View All]

[NewJeffCT]

Once to a non-career woman, and now to a career woman, I can say that being married to a career woman is infinitely preferable.

That said, when I first met my now ex-wife, she was on track to become an elementary school teacher. But, after we got engaged, she seemed to give up on the idea of becoming a teacher, and instead worked part-time as a waitress at the local Hooters. (It was totally her idea - I was prepared to tap into my 401k to get money for her to finish her teaching degree!)

So, while I was working 70-80 hours per week (on salary) on a special project at my job, she was working maybe 20 hours a week. Despite this difference in hours, she still did no housework and barely did anything to help with her dog.

After the marriage went downhill, I went on a dating spree where I at least learned that - if I was to marry again - I would prefer somebody that either had a good career, or was starting out in a good career (I liked to joke that I dated half the single nurses in Connecticut between my marriages!)

And, luckily, I found the right woman a little more than a year after my divorce was finalized - she was funny and had 2 master's degrees and was clearly very focused on her career. So, while I currently make slightly more than my wife... she certainly has more long-term earnings potential than me. (she made a bit more than me last year, however.)