I lived (mostly) alone for 10 years, and not alone for 15 years.
I break-off nearly every prolonged disagreement with: Just leave me alone now.
And it works!
Hubby and I escalate to heights of ridiculousness and start laughing at each other when we bicker.
We have never had a mean-hearted argument in our entire (coming up on) 40 years of knowing each other.
He is an exceedingly nice and gentle man, and I can take little to no credit for our happy relationship.