Table for One

I've gotten a number of questions recently about what it's like to be a "restaurant wife", so I figured it was finally time to give you all the low down.  I know that owning a restaurant seems like a fantastic job.  In fact, owning a restaurant is second only to being a movie star when people are asked about their dream job.  On the surface being a restaurateur seems like it would be tons of fun - like having your friends over for a dinner party ever night - but unless your friends are demanding, often boorish, and complain about how much everything costs, I can assure you that serving the general public is nothing like hanging out with your peeps.  There are times when running a restaurant is fun, but mostly it's just really hard work, with unbelievably long hours and tiny profit margins.  Not all that long ago a guy at a party told me that he would really like to own a restaurant so he could "be home early every night and not have to work as much as I do at my advertising job."  Apparently this dude was under the impression that if you own a restaurant you don't have to actually do anything except count your money while you hang out on your yacht (this is true for some people, but not for most). I had to patiently explain that unless he felt like working days, nights and weekends, he should stick to advertising.  Obviously, being the spouse of a restaurateur is not for everyone. If you don't enjoy attending weddings, bar mitzvahs, or any other even that happens to fall on a weekend, alone, I suggest you avoid getting involved with anyone who owns a restaurant.  Are you looking for a spouse with a steady, reliable job with no fluctuations in salary?  Not a fan of spending holidays on your own?  Then I strongly urge you to put "no restaurateurs, please" on your JDate profile.  I, on the other hand, don't mind all of these things.  Maybe it's because I'm an only child, or the fact that I've been a restaurant spouse for many years and am used to it, but I'm extremely independent and value having time to myself. Before the Muffin Man arrived, when I was slinging jokes for a living, having a husband who also worked late and didn't mind my being out all the time was perfect.  Would it be nice to have a husband with a normal job?  I'm sure I would enjoy the steady income and having a date for New Year's Eve, but I like being married to someone who understands what it's like to be creative and take the Road Less Traveled.  I've made my peace with the drawbacks in return for a lifetime of delicious meals and knowing everything there is to know about the restaurant business.  Anyway, I think it's great that Noah will grow up knowing his way around a kitchen; the girls will definitely put out for a guy who cooks.