Thanks again, I listened to it!
I am aware of much going on in my surrounding relationships. Even though he is my only boyfriend, I have launched myself into understanding everything I can in the last 10 years about love and marriage and relationships. I have forgiven too much already and put in more than my share. I hate to give up on anything and this had been incredibly important to me- in fact, making it work with him had been my priority in life, period, until I realized he didn't have to lift a finger and his actions seemed to erase all my progress with "us" and all the active work I have done didn't seem to make a dent. I used to have to use a journal to refer to in order to have any healthy, normal communication, period.
I am not sure, but in 10 years, I have never asked him to even sweep a floor and certainly never witnessed him wipe a surface, in 10 years. He hasn't had to do ****, in my quest to prevent demasculating him in any way.
I have tried. In every way I know, the traditional way. And even have taken all the modern advice I can. All these frickin marriage books and my own counselors have gotten me nowhere.