1.

mivasairski blindcopies stuff to me all the time. He sent a letter to someone quoting me. In it, he referred to me as his 'girlfriend' -

2.

I responded:

!!!!!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THOSE SINGLE QUOTATION MARKS???? At the very least, I deserve double quotation marks. Hmmph.

3.

He wrote me back saying,

I was gonna say my significant other. But, significant as you are, I don't know how """""other""""" you are . . . Hmmm . . . what to say, what to write. Life can be so complicated among us humans.

4.

I wrote:

I’m perfectly okay with girlfriend. No single or double quotation marks. I’m a girl, I’m your friend. Womanfriend is okay if you don’t like girlfriend, but the extra syllable is awkward.

I’m also okay with romantic partner, but now we’re into five syllables. On the other hand, it has the unmistakable “romantic” in it, so there is no confusion.

I’m also okay being a “unit” of some kind. Significant unit would be fine.

We believe in the Great Oneness and a unit is one. It also suggests unity.

So henceforward, I think I’ll call you my significant unit.

I haven't heard back. We're three time zones apart. But I do like the sound of significant unit. What do y'all call each other out there in the hubverse?

Note: I've been ambivalent on the use of "wife" and "husband" in my past, preferring "spousal unit" - but I do see those terms a lot on hubski. I was uncomfortable with the ownership associations. I don't care anymore. Mutual ownership is delightful with the right person.