My fiancé is 17 years older than me, and we met at work. He's planning for retirement, but I'm just starting my career.

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kelsey herbers and her partner and their dog
The author, right, is 17 years younger than her partner and has different financial goals.

G&M Visions

It's hard to make friends in Palm Springs because, in my 50s, I'm one of the younger residents. Many retirees move here.

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Mid-century homes with palm trees in front of them and a mountain range behind them in Palm Springs, California.
Shelly Karpaty says she recently moved to Palm Springs, California, where most people are retired.

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I left my job to build a company with my boyfriend. The constant fighting led to our breakup.

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illustration of woman and man fighting
The author kept fighting with her business partner-boyfriend.

Nuthawut Somsuk/Getty Images

I live with my mother, daughter, and granddaughter. 4 generations under one roof can get crowded, but it's special.

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a woman surrounded by clutter in her house
The author, not pictured, lives in a crowded household.

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My work wife and I had an emotional affair. Our friendship was so close and flirty that it upset our romantic partners.

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an illustration of people on laptops
The author and his work wife started flirting on Zoom.

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I thought drinking until I blacked out most nights was normal. College drinking culture masked my alcoholism.

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Evan Lambert on Dartmouth's campus
The author at Dartmouth.

Courtesy of Evan Lambert

My work wife and I got so close that she started sleeping at my house to shorten her commute. We stopped talking when she left the company.

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cartoon of two women high fiving
The author became close friends with her coworker.

Alisa Zahoruiko/Getty Images

My flight was diverted due to weather 2 days before Christmas. Here's how I avoided being stranded for the holidays.

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Woman on airport waiting for her flight which is delayed due to bad weather
Stock image of a woman at the airport.

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Working retail for over a decade made me hate everything about the holidays. Here's why.

Tech Insider
Photo of a woman fixing decorations on a Christmas tree that has red bows and colorful ornaments on it. The woman has dark brown hair pulled into a bun and wears a green t-shirt and blue apron. Behind her are displays with Christmas decorations on them.
Author not pictured.

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I went to school in the US and Japan. Japan gave me a sense of community, but the US taught me to have my own opinions.

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Man posing for a photo next to the ocean
The author.

Courtesy of the author

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