Hey everybody, I need some serious help from those that can intelligently contribute. The issue I am facing, is leaving my wife, and I would like some advice on how to proceed, what to do, what to say, what to look out for, etc.
A little background
I have known my wife since I was 10. She is my best friends cousin, so we have been around eachother since we were kids. So basically, her parents are like an aunt and an uncle for me. I got out of a REALLY serious 5 year relationship in 2000, and my heart was devistated. To be honest, I have only really been over her for the last year, MAYBE 2. (yes, it took me 3 years)
Anyway, right after this serious breakup with this girl, I started dating my wife. I told her early on that I would need a lot of time to get over what I had just gone through, so to give me time, so nothing was serious at all. After 6 or 7 months, it started to get serious, and we were moving on like a normal couple. It was approaching the end of her last year in college a year and a half later, and I was kind of under pressure to marry. The only thing I knew, was that I didnt' want to be alone. So I bought a ring, and asked.
Through the entire year engagement, I slowly but surely started to lose feelings for her, but not comlpetely. I thought maybe it was cold feet? Whatever the case, I felt somewhere down deep inside she wasn't the right person for me. I wasn't even that happy on our wedding day. I now realize that I was on the rebounds of all rebounds, which apparently lasted a really really long time. I don't feel loved, I am not IN love, but now I finally feel like getting on track to finding somebody that I CAN fall in love with, it just unfortnately isn't my wife. This marriage was obviously a huge mistake.
Anyway, we have been married for 1 year, and things have gotten really bad. I now realize, that I don't even love her, and most of the time we don't even really get along. All we do is argue and bicker, and our love life is horrible. I am definitly the commitement type of guy, but not at the sake of complete unhappyness. So the last 3 or 4 months I have been seriously considering leaving, and I just recently made up my mind. I am just miserable.
The problem I face are
A) only making it a year (no big deal, just looks bad?)
B) her family is like my second family (good-bye to them I suppose?)
C) I work with her father (oh crap...)
D) hurting somebody that i care about (again.. I have to do what makes me happy)
E) splitting property and pets
Can anybody chime in and let me know what you think? Ideas on how to do this, timing?, etc... I would really appreciate it.