There was a night a few years ago when Caroline got frustrated about something—I don't remember what—we went for a walk outside, and talked it over.

The phones stayed home.

Since that night, we've made a point of taking a lap around Lake Merritt once/week, usually on Tuesday night. We don't do it every week, but when we miss a Tuesday, one or the other proposes an alternate time.

We keep this appointment because it's important.

A lot of fights begin with someone not feeling heard. I think perhaps 90% of relationship arguments wouldn't happen if (1) there was a regular forum where it was acceptable to have difficult conversations, and (2) both people listened, free from distraction.

Easy advice, hard to follow.

Maybe Festivus isn't such a bad idea after all?