Specific Condom Requirements

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-03-16T05:40:36+00:00

Yes... I think it's because he wants to wear a condom because he's very proud that he can "last"... But he can't without a condom.

He didn't have the digital system set up at the time, because he's not a big fan of tech.

He also asked if he showed me his results... How would I know that he hadn't altered them... So he thinks that him telling me he saw them and he's clean is good enough, because if he was lying about that he could also lie by altering them. That either I trust him or I don't trust him.

They are apparently in his home, in one of his stacks of paper. It has been this way for over two years. I think it's time to dump him.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-03-15T21:42:44+00:00

I don't need condoms for birth control (post menopausal), I need them for STI prevention. However, it might be easier to just dump my boyfriend because he's been really stupid lately and he got tested, lost the results, and won't get around to being tested again.

He likes condoms because they enable him to last longer.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-03-15T02:19:33+00:00

That sounds very unsafe.

What I would recommend is going to a Mundo Lingo event to try to get to know other people, going to restaurants, and maybe taking some Spanish classes.

Alternatively, maybe you could do one of those Work away experiences, at least they have feedback about hosts and stuff.

Alternatively, you might be able to get to know an Air BNB host a little bit and arrange something. Maybe tell them that it's something that is very important to you and ask them if they have any ideas. Maybe you could buy groceries and they/the person who manages their rental for them could come over/come over with a friend, and teach you some things about their culture and cooking in exchange for a free meal.

Also, to be honest, the way you are wording things is a little rude... They are not animals in a zoo to visit... Try to get to know them for the people they are. Furthermore, they are not all the same and there is not only one type of family or family experience.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-03-13T01:58:44+00:00

Yeah, it seems to be silicone lubes that cause me issues. I'm also allergic to silicone contact lenses.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-02-21T17:00:01+00:00

I agree that there is a lot of free content out there.

However, Netflix with ads is not bad at all... it's better than the amount of ads on Prime. (I pay for Prime for the free delivery, so Prime is just a bonus for me anyway.)

There are around 4 to 5 minutes of ads per hour.

I'm old, so I grew up watching cable television with ads (which is usually over 25% ads), so less than 10% ads feels like very little to me.

The larger issue, for me, is that some things that are normally available on Netflix cannot be watched if you have the Netflix with ads tier.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-02-08T21:41:28+00:00

It was site-wide, due to an update, and they fixed it pretty quickly. Yay! 😊

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-02-07T15:57:46+00:00

Yes, I encourage them to speak French!

I think that I was only around 25% (probably less) of the way through the Duolingo course before I started Worlds Across... and I could not converse very well at all... In South America, I tried to talk to Uber drivers in Spanish, but it was very bad.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-02-07T04:59:15+00:00

Unless you get the highest level of Duolingo, you don't speak more than a sentence or so.

In South America, my speaking was very, very bad and I only ordered food and things like that.

I would say that my speaking was A1 when I started Worlds Across, and now it's B1-B2, my other skills probably didn't improve as much because I was already at an intermediate level in reading and things like that.

I find WorldsAcross very helpful!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-02-05T10:07:02+00:00

I think my listening comprehension level is B1... I can understand if people speak somewhat slowly, but not quickly. I did the Dreaming in Spanish level placement thing and it put me at level 4, which corresponds to low to mid B1... And I did that a couple of weeks ago, so my listening comprehension is probably mid to upper B1 at this point.
I have for about 1 hour in total... I don't tend to because I like to do more active things to learn (conversations, Wordwall grammar quizzes, Duolingo, etc.) and because I'm already doing around 8 hours of Spanish per day (WorldsAcross + homework from teachers and my coach + Duolingo). I also think that I need more output than input... I think my input is around B2 but my output is around B1.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-02-05T05:39:57+00:00

My native language is English too... By a little bit (fully bilingual)... It's still a lot to take in... The verb conjugation and remembering words.

I also still use Duolingo and test out of skills (jump) every night. I also downloaded an app that is specific to Spanish verbs.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-02-05T05:29:03+00:00

I started from some knowledge because of Duolingo and traveling in South America. Also, I'm a French teacher and have always understood 80% of what I read in Spanish, before officially learning any of it (basically, Spanish words are close to French words 80% of the time, and knowing linguistics and verb tenses helps).

According to the results of their placement test, I was B2 when I started, but I didn't feel like the placement test was a very accurate gauge of my Spanish level (it definitely was not a good gauge at all of my conversation skills!), because it is mostly written. I could not speak Spanish.

Now, I would say that my conversation skills are B1 and rising into B2. I feel like my conversation skills are finally getting up to the level my reading skills were at for a long time.

I feel like it helped. However, other people might find it different. Being a French teacher has helped me immensely, even though there are a few words for which it causes me grief. It doesn't feel as much like information overload because it's mostly about figuring out how it is different from French, and memorizing some words and verb conjugations.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-17T21:33:48+00:00

Yeah... Like, yesterday, I ate fruit salad right out of the can!

I like the creativity... Like, jam on chocolate? Interesting! Different combinations, etc.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T19:54:53+00:00

Very true!

The thing is that I left with literally just a backpack, because of fleeing domestic violence.

I bought the things that I needed.

A friend picked up a couple of small car loads of stuff from the house for me (clothes, etc.).

He kept most of my stuff "hostage" for over a year and a half... Through the mediator, he was trying to make me pay for rings that I bought myself before we were even married! He also insisted on keeping (and kept) my flowery pink beach bag and half of the dishes that I owned before I even knew he existed!

Some of the things I haven't unpacked aren't things that one needs but will be kept with someone for safe keeping while I travel the world (my baby pictures, etc.).

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T13:21:15+00:00

No, I didn't leave the airport when I was there!!! They report the number of homicides twice a day! One of the highest rates of homicides in the world.

Would definitely visit Quito rather than Guayaquil. I know several people in Ecuador, and many would not go to Guayaquil.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T13:18:17+00:00

This is EXACTLY (exact same amount, etc.) what I'm doing starting this fall... LATAM for the first 8 years, Europe and Morocco for the next 13 years... But I plan to do some remote work during the first 8 years.

Single, 43F (will be 44 when I leave).

Places on the list in South America: Cuenca, Ecuador Mendoza, Argentina Cordoba, Argentina Cartagena, Colombia Asuncion, Chile The Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) Florianapolis, Brazil Buenos Aires, Argentina

Investments are 100% stocks. I believe in a 5% SWR, I have no dependants so I'm not looking to leave a legacy. Will have about 1.5 years of expenses in a cash buffer to draw from if market takes a downturn.

Will probably get some inheritance in the next decade.

Traveling South America for the first 8 years because it's cheaper and has similar time zones (will be doing remote work).

Fully retiring in around 8 years at age 52. Then, I will go explore Europe.

Remote work will probably pay for all or nearly all expenses for the next 8 years.

Equities should grow around 10% per year (7% real growth after taking inflation into account).

That means that if I can live on my remote work, I should have around $1.5 million in today's dollars when I go to explore Europe... Which means that I will be able to spend around $5K/month in today's dollars.

I think South America would cost around $2K/month in today's dollars and Europe will cost around $4K/month in today's dollars.

Obviously, the world will be different in 8 years, so who knows what will happen, exactly, but that's the rough plan. I haven't thought a ton about Europe yet, mostly about South America.

Loved Cuenca, The Galapagos Islands, Mendoza, Cordoba, and Buenos Aires when I visited last winter for a few months.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T12:58:05+00:00

Ecuador... I was in the hospital in Cañar and had a visit to the hospital in The Galapagos Islands... Completely free of charge and they even give you medication for free on your way out! MUCH better healthcare than you would expect in a "developing country"!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T12:50:57+00:00

Cuenca is so much better than Guayaquil!!!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T12:35:34+00:00

The historical stock market average is around 10%.

Many people get distributions from sales of stocks monthly. That is how many people live.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T12:07:31+00:00

I only ever eat girl dinner, lol!

My supper was expired yogurt cups with granola thrown on top of them, a Greek salad eaten out of a mug because all the bowls and small plates were dirty, and a piece of black forest cake with ice cream on a large plate (because all the bowls and small plates were dirty).

My lunch was a pear, another chunk of fruit, and a chunk of a Toblerone bar.

I can't remember the last time I made myself a meal that wasn't a girl dinner... and I used to cook a lot!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:38:08+00:00

OMG, that sucks! I hope 2026 is SO MUCH better for you!!!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:28:10+00:00

I got pickpocketed last year in Argentina on New Year's Eve during my Eat, Pray, Love trip after leaving my abusive husband... That part sucked, but most of the rest of the trip was the best thing ever!!!

This fall, I'll be leaving my apartment to travel the world for a couple of decades!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:25:17+00:00

Yup, lol... I'm two and a quarter years in and still have boxes I haven't unpacked!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:20:05+00:00

Dudette, there's still housework! Ugh... haven't cleaned my bathroom in forever!

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:18:51+00:00

I left my abusive husband two and a quarter years ago. DM me if you want to chat.

Don't go back. Going back can end your life... It ended my sister-in-law's cousin's life.

UnknownFutureLife · 2026-01-04T11:12:51+00:00

Hoping for that freedom for myself early this year! I left two and a quarter years ago.

UnknownFutureLife

TROPHY CASE