d to be made for family well-being.
Couples who have a similar level of education tend to do best in their marriages. Also couples with greater education tend to have more stable unions. I have achieved an AA degree and have aspirations for a BA in business management. My wife holds a degree for practical nursing and is interested in furthering her education in the nursing field to a higher professional level. We are compatible in this area and have similar levels of ambition. One source of occasional discomfort is the fact that we are the first generation in both our families to pursue a college education, and we feel, at times, at a loss for role models in this area. We cope with this difficulty by turning to each other and friends who can relate to our wishes.
The presence of numerous friends and an active social network serves to support a marriage. Individuals who marry in relative isolation do not do as well, as marriage is a social institution as well as a legal and spiritual institution. We feel secure in that we met within our church and retain active participation within the church. Most of our friends are married and can identify with whatever challenges we feel. It is important to us, also, to serve in the community-at-large in order not to become too short-sighted and selfish about the aims of our lives. I am the Vice-President of the local police union as well as active in sports activities for young boys in the area.
Research also shows that couples who live in a suburban area fare better than those who live in urban apartments. Probably, again, isolation would be a factor in those city couples who feel apart from warm, social networking. Stability of occupation weighs in favor of a stable marriage. I feel very fortunate that I have been able to work most of my career in two jobs--multi-unit loss prevention manager for Sears and Roebuck for seventeen years and police officer for eighteen years. I...