Forget taking the magazine quiz “Are you and your mate a good match?” I suggest instead that you and your beloved go outside and build a sow shed together in the freezing rain, as it coats the tools, the wood, the metal roofing, and both of you in a thin layer of ice. That should determine pretty quickly your compatibility and the mettle of your relationship. Trust me, I know.

There’s nothing quite like driving nails together in an ice storm to prove you’ve found the right work – and the right partner.