Fed up with boyfriend's lack of a job

DEAR AMY: My boyfriend is a loving, creative and sensitive person who is 15 years my senior. (I am in my mid-30s.) When we met, I was going through a hard time emotionally, and he was going through a hard time financially. He helped me out by being supportive and understanding and I helped cover his bills. Fast-forward to a year later. I still struggle with my ups and downs, and he is still broke. I've continually asked him to get a job. Even a part-time job at a convenience store would help keep us afloat. We live together, and I know he spends many productive hours on projects that may or may not pay off eventually. His former profession as a freelance producer dropped off with the economy, and while he tries hard to find work in his field, he is reluctant to accept the fact that he may need to get a "regular" job. Besides that, he is always home, so I never get any time to myself. Both the financial problems and lack of alone time make me testy. I love him, but I can't continue to keep my frustration bottled up. I tell myself I'm going to leave him if he doesn't find work, but I really want to stay together. How should I handle this?Round the BendDEAR ROUND: Introduce some clarity into your conversations. Don't wait until you feel about to blow up; do this when you feel calm and prepared.

The very essence of freelancing is that you have the freedom to accept a variety of jobs, as well as the responsibility to make a living between gigs. Freelancers teach, tend bar, work retail and do whatever it takes to bring home the dough. Volunteering is also a wonderful way to keep busy, creatively stimulated and to meet new people.

You also need time to yourself at home. This probably would help both of you. Tell him that because he has a lot of privacy during the day you'd like some solitude, too -- maybe one evening a week and a weekend morning. He needs to step out and get going.