What makes wives happy.

According to a study by W. Bradford Wilcox and Steven Nock, published in the 3/06 volume of Social Forces, the top predictors, in order, of a woman’s marital happiness are:

1. Her husband makes an effort to listen, regularly expresses affection and appreciation, and regularly shares quality time with her:  a constellation of behaviors that Wilcox and Nock name "emotional engagement."
2. She perceives that housework and other family responsibilities are divided fairly.
3. Her husband earns 68% or more of household income.
4. She and her husband have a strong commitment to the "norm of lifelong marriage."  The example given:  a shared belief that "even unhappily married couples should stay together for the sake of the children."
5. She does not work outside the home.
6. She and her husband share attendance at religious services.
7. She holds "traditional" attitudes about gender roles.

Goodness.  No wonder things are going so well for me. 

I told Mark about this.  He didn’t like the term "emotional engagement." 

Emotionally engaged?  I don’t have to be "emotionally engaged."  Any rational person should know that emotions are an important factor that must be included in all calculations of how to behave.