Skip to the content Dear Prudence Dear Prudence is Slate’s advice column. Ashley C. Ford is filling in as Prudie for Jenée Desmond-Harriswhile she’s on parental leave. Submit questions here Dear Prudence, A few years ago, I moved to a retirement community and became close friends with a fellow widow, “Marie,” even though I have one of the most basic condos and Marie has a big house on the golf course, a yacht, and numerous other properties she mostly rents out.