A wife is not necessarily a friend. I have friends, and none of them are fifty three year old women. Besides, my friends are all on my side. If our wives were also on our side, we'd all tip over. Marrying your BFF is BS. Don't look for the woman that you like best. Look for the woman who brings out in you the man that you like best. Look for the woman who is everything that you are not. Look for your other half. Look for the woman who wants to join you in service to the family the two of you will build. Anything is defined just as much by what it is not as it is by what it is. A man who is really ready to be married knows who he is, but even he may be surprised to find out just what he is not. Being confronted by what you are not, can never be but need none the less is what a man will have to contend with in a good wife. While on a field trip to the natural history museum, when I was in the 4th grade, I climbed the dinosaur skeleton and rode that thing just like Fred Flintstone. I spent the rest of the day in the security office waiting for my mom to come pick me up. From that day on, every time there was a field trip, I had a chaperone assigned just to me. When I grew up, I married the ultimate chaperone. I mean to tell you guys that I married the goodest of goodie two shoes, the pooper of parties, the downer of Debbies. Denise is the short leash that keeps me on the straight and narrow path; and let me tell you, I kick against the goads all the way. She's a pain in my … She's also my life. It all collapses without her. Gramagrampa's house, the food, the family, it all goes away without her. My whole world evaporates like a mist without my Denise, and we don't even get along most days. I'm athletic and outdoorsy. Denise likes art and chocolate. I like rock climbing, backpacking in bear country and Jiu Jitsu. Denise is 100% risk averse, non-violent and never strays far from home unless its to peruse bric-a-brac. My point is this guys, don't go looking to marry the ultimate friend or the ultimate girlfriend. A wise man is looking for a wife who can matriarch a family not a BFF. DON'T MARRY THE WOMAN THAT YOU LIKE BEST. MARRY THE WOMAN WHO BRINGS OUT IN YOU THE MAN THAT YOU LIKE BEST.
When choosing a wife, pick a really short one. Find a high place for your guns. She may still get ya, but at least you'll hear her dragging a chair to stand on across the floor.
Find a wife who is financially disciplined. One who makes a point of keeping track of all the income and expenditures. One who knows how to live on a tight budget. My estranged wife is utterly useless with managing money. I've told her that if everybody in our country was listed for who is best qualified to be Minister of Finance, she would be rock bottom right below gamblers and drug addicts. Find a wife who is your intellectual equal. Meaning she is neither smarter nor dumber than you. She can occasionally challenge you mentally. Good for keeping you sharp.
Any lifelong companion must inherently be a friend if happiness is expected. I suggest the "Guys": take the OP with 45bs. of salt and as the extremely personalized recommendation of an individual. My wife is the best friend I ever had.
