THE ADVICE GODDESS

Helen Of Toy

My wife of three years complains that I'm not romantic anymore. In the beginning, I did romantic stuff all the time. I still love her very much, but I guess I'm subconsciously reacting to the fact that I've nabbed her forever. (There's definitely something to be said about "the thrill of the chase.") How can I let her know I still care?

--Comfortably Wed

Your wife could be a mix of Angelina Jolie, Madame Curie, and Sue Johanson (the cute little old lady sexpert from TV), and the thrill of the chase would probably still give way to the thrill of pretending to listen to what she's saying while you're watching the game.

You can try to keep the romance alive with some therapist looking disapprovingly down her bifocals at the two of you -- or with the gift of a 50-cent purple plastic chimp. The chimp, happily, will not ask you to "own your feelings" or repeat awkward "I" statements. Of course, the chimp could also be a toy pig, a chocolate dog, or some celebrity's toenail clippings. I happen to have a thing for chimps, so my boyfriend gives me chimp thingiedoos. The point is to extend yourself in ways that give your partner a little lift even though you no longer need to chase her (you just reach over in bed and give her a gentle shake so she'll stop snoring like an old wino).

Doing nice little things for each other regularly is the romantic version of car maintenance to keep you from ending up broke-down in Scarytown. A 2010 study tracking 65 couples by psych prof Sara B. Algoe found that a partner's little thoughtful actions led to feelings of gratitude in the recipient partner, which led to both partners feeling more connected and happier with their relationship the following day. Algoe and her colleagues speculated that "moments of gratitude can act like 'booster shots' for the ongoing relationship." Previous research by Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky (detailed in "The How of Happiness") suggests that two of the most effective ways to increase a person's overall happiness are feeling grateful and doing thoughtful things for others, so yes...the key to both a happier marriage and a happier life could be the occasional checkout line impulse item.

The husband you don't want to be is the neglectful one with the miserable, angry wife he tries to placate with occasional seismic gifting -- waiting until their anniversary and going bankrupt buying a diamond tennis bracelet or hiring the Three Wise Men to drop by her office with gifts of frankincense and myrrh. His wife knows very well what his gifts are: remedial romancing -- a peace offering instead of a love offering. The wiser approach is replacing the thrill of the chase with the thrill of making your wife happy by being regularly attentive: Hug her and tell her she's beautiful. Change her windshield wipers without being asked (you care about her safety!). Slip out of work to get her a cupcake (at 3 p.m. on a Thursday, her happiness was important to you). Every now and then, mix the little things up with all that stuff guys do early on -- stuff like sending flowers after sex, not sneaking out after your wife falls asleep and then avoiding your favorite bar for two weeks so you won't run into her.

Mitey Aphrodite

I've been dating a really sweet guy for a month and a half. Three weeks in, I knew I had to end it, but he really likes me and somehow talked me into staying.

--Dreading The Day

"If you love something, set it free" is, I guess, helpful advice for those whose first thought is "If you love something, lure it into your house and lock it in your basement." But, what you and a whole lot of people need to hear is "If you pity something, set it free." When you aren't into a guy who's into you, the kindest thing you can do is snuff out all hope. Cut him loose as soon as possible and as definitively as possible. Be starkly honest that it's over but vague and maybe even dishonest about why (for example, you just don't have "chemistry"). Giving specifics is usually mean and gives your dumpee wiggle room: "I'll take sex lessons! And comedy lessons! I'll even start reading books." By letting it get to this point, you're prone to lash out with a suggestion of exactly the sort of book he needs to read: "How To Get a New Head, Body, and Personality, and To Think, Smell, and Talk Like a Totally Different Person: A Love Story."

Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or email AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com). Alkon is the author of "I See Rude People: One Woman's Battle To Beat Some Manners Into Impolite Society."