I grew up in a rural area and we rarely ate out or had formal social events. Maybe my parents would hang out with the neighbor on Saturday night but it's not like we had formal events every weekend.

Well since meeting my husband, we moved to his home city and people are just different here. They insist on filling up our calendar with social plans multiple times per week. I work full time and I just want to come home at the end of the day and relax. Plus I hate the culture here of eating out every night. I want to cook at home. Not eat in restaurants.

is it a class difference? I know some of you are going to say just say no, but people here get overly offended if you say no to their plans and take it really personally. My husband wants to maintain these relationships.

Our marriage has suffered because all I want is more free time. I want time to paint, read and be creative, not being out at a restaurant every other night for "happy hour".