>>really reminds me life under the totalitarian (communist) regime - the way to survive was to be totally ignorant to everything that mattered in life and live a superficial happy ever after life full of personal lies and deep-seeted discomfort with the state of the things one was unable to change>>
That also describes my first marriage. That oppression can cause a person to have health issues from the hard emotions that have to be stifled too.
We've had about 2 beautiful spring days here..the rest have been windy, cold, and crazy.