[ScubieNuc]

"What did you do when you were courting her? Was there someplace special you would go just to talk?"

One of the problems with this is...who watches the kids while we are gone? To get away alone with her is a great idea, but VERY difficult to come by with 3 kids. It is worth looking into though.

[jellybean]

One of the problems with this is...who watches the kids while we are gone?

You don't have a mother, mother-in-law, sister, good friend, etc..?? Geesh! You're looking for excuses!

[sweetliberty]

"One of the problems with this is...who watches the kids while we are gone?"

It sounds like you're looking for excuses. You said you are involved in your church. My experience with church is that couples whose marriages work take time for each other. Are there no other couples in your church who have kids? Don't your kids have friends or relatives with whom they could do a monthly overnight? Maybe you could work out a co-op type thing with one or more other couples...they take the kids one night and you and your wife take their kids on another night. Everybody wins.

[maui_hawaii]

One of the problems with this is...who watches the kids while we are gone?

Regarding moving to Hawaii or American Samoa for a year....take the kids with you... it will be the best thing in the world for them.

Extremely educational at the very least.

Odds are they will love it.