Boyfriend doesn't meet her showering standards

DEAR AMY: Help! I have been dating the most wonderful man for the past eight months. He is the most kind, caring and loving man I have ever been with. My problem started when I sold my house and moved in with him temporarily. Since living with him, I have learned that he doesn't shower every day! He doesn't have body odor and it's not obvious that he doesn't bathe, but now that I'm living with him, I've seen that he sometimes lets as long as four days pass between showers. I was raised to shower every day and I really find this disgusting. I've tried every way I can possibly think of to persuade him to shower every day - joking, cajoling and being stern. For me, this is a deal breaker. I realize I shouldn't have moved in with him and that situation will change soon, but can you help me come up with ways to convince him that he must bathe every day? - Clean, Not Mean

DEAR CLEAN: I'll point out that the practice of showering or bathing daily is not universal; I assume that people who bathe daily are probably in the minority - in this country and elsewhere.

If you two had a frank conversation about this, your guy might point out that his skin gets yucky if he uses soap too often - or that he is motivated by the thought of saving thousands of gallons of water each year.

(If that's his reasoning, perhaps you could suggest that you two share your showers.)

Most important, if you are a bathing maniac and yet don't notice any ill effects of his bathing schedule, then why do you care so much?

And if this is so important to you, couldn't he compromise and shower more often? If you declare something to be a deal breaker and he doesn't cooperate, then it may be time to pack your shampoo and go.