How I Make My Marriage Work

"We live in separate cities."

Due to the tough economy, Gabby Jenkins*, 39, is unable to leave her job in Los Angeles to be with her husband, Todd, 45, who's finishing school in San Diego—but that suits her just fine. "We married later in life, and I had already lived on my own for many years," she says. "Moving in with someone would be a hard adjustment for me." The two commute to see each other on weekends, like they did when they were courting. Although she misses him during the week, Jenkins sees a silver lining: "I secretly love living apart," she says. "I never have to tell him to pick up his socks, watch history or sci-fi TV shows on a continuous loop, or listen to his weird folk music."