Dear Abby: We’re a godly couple, and we find the neighbors’ decor off-putting

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have neighbors we are not interested in being friends with.

Dear Abby: The bride insulted my friend with her rule for plus-ones

Dear Abby: I kept my niece’s secret, and now my sister is furious

Dear Abby: I leave work in tears because my new co-workers nitpick everything I do

Dear Abby: I asked him to rein it in, and he called me a homophobe. Was I out of line?

Dear Abby: I set down rules for my baby’s grandma, and the in-laws called me harsh

We are a religious family and believe in God. They have a black ram’s head hanging in their living room, if you catch my drift.

They keep inviting us to events at their home or to spend time with them, and we don’t know how to politely decline without making anyone angry. How do we keep our distance?

— STAYING AWAY IN NEW YORK

DEAR STAYING AWAY: Have you and your husband been accepting their invitations? If that’s the case, start backing away by having “other plans.”

However, if they don’t take the hint, begin sending them religious tracts from your denomination, and they may disappear in a puff of sulfur.

DEAR ABBY: My husband is going to be 70 next month. He is in good physical shape but has taken up smoking marijuana every day.

He says he is addicted. I have told him how much I hate that he uses dope. He quits for a while and then goes back to it.

We have been married almost 50 years. I would be disappointed filing for divorce, but I am starting to think it’s my only way out of a situation that has become increasingly frustrating.

His doctor has told him it probably won’t kill him. Seriously? What’s your advice, Abby?

— POTHEAD’S WIFE IN ARIZONA

DEAR WIFE: Unless there are other reasons why you want out of your marriage, perhaps you should lighten up.

Some people smoke marijuana to relax or to relieve tension, depression or even boredom. Do you know why your husband does it on a daily basis, and why you are bothered to the point you are considering divorce?

Before talking to an attorney, you might benefit from attending a few Nar-Anon meetings to gain some insight. They’re as near as your computer at nar-anon.org.

DEAR ABBY: I recently bought a new house. I was downsizing because my mother has passed away and my daughter went out of state to college.

I invited my best friend and her son over. We have been best friends since junior high, and I love her dearly.

I actually bought my new furniture with weight considerations as a factor because she and her son weigh about 1,000 pounds combined. As they sat down, my friend joked about having broken other people’s furniture in the past. Then there was an audible “crack” as they sat down on my couch. She just looked at me and made no comment.

Have a reactive dog? Here’s how to help them

Asking Eric: My ex reached out to me, and I’m not proud of what I did

Harriette Cole: Does a wife need to stay in this kind of marriage?

Miss Manners: Must I answer the druggist’s question in front of other customers?

Dear Abby: The bride insulted my friend with her rule for plus-ones

Abby, I know friendship is more valuable than a couch, but she wants to bring more of her family over to visit. I simply can’t afford to buy a $900 couch every few months. Can you please help?

— HESITANT HOSTESS

DEAR HOSTESS: Your friend should have offered to pay to have your new sofa repaired or replaced. That she heard the wood crack under the burden of their weight and said nothing speaks volumes to me.

In the future, visit her at her home, but refrain from inviting her to visit or bring relatives to your home again.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.