key to any great marriage: leave your spouse alone for 8 to12 hours per day.
This. If you both accept the fact that alone time is good, you will go far.
+1. The last thing you want to have happen is to get sick of that other person since you're theoretically stuck with them for life. There is a married couple I work with who clearly violates the 8-12 hour avoidance rule. Instead, they have chosen to spend 24 out of 24 hours per day together. They drive to work together, go to lunch at the same time, eat the exact same Banquet frozen dinner, etc. I just don't get it. Imagine the scintillating dinner conversation they must have:
"Well honey, how was your day today?"
"Well Dear, you were there with me, remember?"
Awkward silence, crickets chirping.......
How have these two not killed each other yet?