I think this is such a hard decision to make. I am currently living in the home, and have been for almost 4 years since BD. I am however, planning my "getaway" and I will explain that more in a minute as to the why.
Quick background:
We had been together 16 years at BD and not legally married. He chose to leave the house after I threatened to leave him 2 years ago. He is now living at OW's home. He tells me that he is "staying" there, not living there. He has been having an affair with same OW for almost 4 years straight.
So for almost 4 years now...this man has come and gone as he pleases in this house because he pays ALL the bills, even now. I feel like I am like a tenant and he is my landlord, yet this landlord does not collect rent. Even though HE abandoned the family, he still acts like he is part of it. He has spent most holidays here at the house, without an invitation from myself. I fought long and hard to keep this man away but because I have two teenage daughters who wanted their father here in their home, I lost that battle. I literally gave up trying to keep him out of the house. It has NEVER worked and only caused me grief. There were days where I wouldn't even come home from work if I knew he was at the house. The only way I knew he was at our home was if I did a slow drive by and saw his truck parked out front, and then I would go park in a grocery store parking lot and wait it out for an hour till he would leave...well that got to be ridiculous so I would just go home and then try to ignore him as he sat on the couch with my daughters while they watched a movie.
Which leads me to the WHY I am leaving the home.
I have never been given a chance, in 4 years.... to heal, without seeing this man almost EVERY single day. It's like having a really deep cut...that is constantly whacked on so it becomes infected and festers and never heals, day in and day out. I have read tons of posts on this forum about staying in the home..but for me...I can't do it. I can't keep watching him leave every night to go back to OW's house. I have to say that I am not as emotional about it and have detached pretty well for the most part...but I need to get myself out of this type of living arrangement. I know deep down that this is not healthy for my emotional well being. His main excuse to get into the home is always about the kids. I feel like he has manipulated all 3 of us into believing that he has a right to come into this home whenever he feels like it. Mainly he tells me that it's HIS HOUSE because he pays for everything. Even though I had been SAHM for 7 years with the kids and pretty much full time caregiver/parent while he has worked out of state, for the other 9 years. I am now 100% full time caregiver , while he only makes "visits" to see his girls. This is not court ordered, this is HIS choice! He does NOT want his girls overnight, unless he plans a vacation and then he takes them out of state somewhere.
Anyway...I know my situation is different as I have no grounds legally to keep him out of the house. My name was never put on the mortgage, something I look back at now and kick myself for...but at the time I was a stay at home mom and figured that I would never qualify for the loan with no income...It came back to bite me in the butt. The crazy part is that he does not want me to leave the home, and has no problem taking care of the entire bill to keep me here. Emotionally...can't do it. He has no idea what my plans are. I tried to tell him about 6 months ago but he didn't want to listen. Like SavingGrace has mentioned...I am making his life SO easy by being the responsible tenant. He doesn't have to worry about the house while he is off playing. He has a full time baby sitter, and full time dog sitter, full time pool person and I keep the house nice because essentially it's my house too right? He doesn't have to worry about bad renters, or someone trashing his house, or someone smoking in it or breaking anything. His kids are living in HIS home so he doesn't have to worry about what type of environment his kids are living in. He gains access pretty much everyday whenever he feels like it...he still carries the housekeys on his keychain. I NEVER get the full privacy that I deserve. He always has an idea of what I'm doing, how I live, how my life operates. He even has the kids asking me "where are you going" when I get into my car, because their father has primed them to not let me out of their sight without an explanation of what I'm up to. I will never be okay living like this. I have come to that conclusion... so for now, I am paying off some credit cards that are in my name...trying to pay off my car, working full time, saving money and then I am leaving. I still love him and I am standing to a degree....but I am not staying in the house...If he ever wants to make anything work...he can come figure out how to get me back.