BRADENTON, Fla. – I love my caring, beautiful fiancee with all of my heart. We enjoy many of the same activities and have the same friends, so we’re together more often than not during our free time.

But there are certain times when my emotional needs can only be met by buddies at bars and Budweiser. Times when it’s just me and the boys and plenty of time to discuss the merits of the designated hitter. And girls in bikinis.

I can’t think of a better example of needing some apart time than a recent 72-hour “The Bachelor” marathon. My future wife, Tiffany, loves watching the drama unfold: a striking 30-something professional with dimples (somehow still single!) chooses a mate from among 25 desperate-for-husband females who seem willing to do just about anything to capture his heart or at least to steal a few extra seconds of airtime.

I think Tiffany likes this because it gives her a sense of accomplishment having bagged her own dreamboat. Maybe this creates a fantasy wherein Tiffany distances herself from the two dozen failures and rides off into the sunset with Mr. Right (me, not Dr. Dreamy), pointing a mocking finger at the teary-eyed losers.

I can see why this is a mindless escape for Tiffany. And she can see why the show drives me batty.

That brings us to the importance of Guy Time, a ladies-free testosterone zone I never fully appreciated when I was The Bachelor. Whether it’s watching sports, playing poker or just lounging around the apartment with three half-empty pizza boxes on the floor, men need some time among themselves.

What happens during Guy Time, you ask? Hairy men sit around and drink beer, sometimes watch football, sometimes complain about women. There are lots of other dude activities, but I won’t reveal them all here for fear of exposing secrets of our gender. There’s lots of self-scratching, too.

Guy Time might be the key to many a boyfriend’s sanity. I’m not making this up. I was able to track down a few local relationship experts who agree that Guy Time is healthy for every couple – assuming their affairs are already in good working order. And, no, I did not pay them to say these things.

“It’s important to talk about what kind of space is needed, what kind of alone time. Is it for fun, to find yourself, for self-actualization?” says Pamela Bowyer, a Bradenton marriage and family therapist.

I require Guy Time to commiserate over my underachieving fantasy baseball team.

“What you want to do is ask for alone time without the spouse taking it personally,” Bowyer says. “What you want to do is define why it is, what kind of space you’re needing: to work, for creativity, financial space.”

So, step one for creating a successful men’s night out is letting your girlfriend or wife know why you want to go out. Be honest and up front with her. Give her some idea of who you’ll be with, where you’re going and, if you live together, what time you’ll be home.

A good way to avoid setting off alarms is to have a date night with your woman on Friday and devote Saturday night to your pals, or vice versa. Suggest your lady spend some time with her girlfriends on the night you’re going bowling with the boys.

The key is to make sure your lady is already satisfied with your relationship. Don Bailey, a Bradenton, Fla., minister and relationship councilor at Life Care Coaching, compares this dynamic to a three-legged stool. Man and wife are two legs, and their relationship is the third.

“It takes all three of those to make the relationship active and healthy,” Bailey says. “It’s important to view the relationship as an important part of their lives, but they can’t give up their individuality.”

Talk to your girlfriend or wife about what it is you want. Let her know how much you love her and your time together. Tell her you also need some time away to unwind with the guys and, well, to act like a guy.

If you’re with someone who’s insecure, make sure she knows that Guy Time presents no threat of you leaving. Shower her with the love and attention she needs while you’re together so she knows you’re thinking about her when you’re apart.

“The problem comes up when your mate takes it personally and that time away means rejection,” Bowyer says. “But usually it just means having fun. Trust and maturity in the relationship has a lot to do with it.”

Remember to suggest a girls’ night out.

“If you both know (apart time) is once a week, the other spouse is prepared,” Bowyer says. “The wife will do something a little different on that date. You can both look forward to Thursdays alone, with others or being away from each other.”

He points out that relationships require that individual needs are expressed and met (in my case, the desire to run up the score on a friend at NCAA Football on the Xbox). There’s also got to be an attempt by the other partner to meet those needs (Tiffany is fine with my Xboxing).

“Marriage and relationships are more about being centered on the other person while not having your needs forgotten by the other person,” Bailey says.

There are rules

It’s also important to play by the rules when you go out: If you tell your partner you’ll be home at 2 a.m., that doesn’t give you license to end your carousing at 2 a.m. and then head to the Waffle House for scattered, covered and chunked hash browns that extend your night out until 3:30 a.m.

But, just like inhaling too many chili dogs during a NASCAR race, too much time away from the Mrs. can be a bad thing. Set limits on your newfound Guy Time: Maybe once a month or every two weeks. Just make sure you prioritize the relationship with the person who means most to you, your special lady.

“You always want to make sure you have quality time for the relationship,” Bowyer says. “As long as the relationship needs are satisfied, there are ways to develop time with others or yourself. If the relationship needs aren’t being met, it’s going to run into trouble.”

Bailey adds, “If you’re spending too much time alone and it’s effecting the relationship, probably some compromise should be made. I think it can become excessive.”

So, gentlemen, in summary: TCB with your wife-to-be, let her know you’ve got a safe ride home from your night out and meet me Saturday for a few beers. I need to tell you about my troublesome carburetor.