The Earth reminded us of a Christmas tree ornament hanging in the blackness of space. As we got farther and farther away it diminished in size. Finally it shrank to the size of a marble the most beautiful marble you can imagine.
Under the administration of George W. Bush you will recall federal spending grew pretty significantly. At the same time the number of people directly employed by the federal government shrank. One of the factors that explained the difference was contracting.
The thing that I think is the most important is taking moments to express your appreciation to your partner. A thank you or a quick kiss can go a long way toward affirming your relationship and commitment to each other. That's not hard to do even when you're juggling insane careers and three kids.