Social Distancing for Spouses
I'll Go North. You Go South
Shelter at home is the order of the day. Social distancing is the medically recommended norm when outside. Now, for marital harmony, I believe we urgently need a directive advocating social distancing for spouses INSIDE the home.
Yes, with everybody staying home right now, things are getting a little close for comfort. Even the happily married agree there’s only so much togetherness a couple can stand!
Here in the San Francisco Bay, we’re on Day 30 of the shelter at home order. That’s 30 days of non-stop living up close and personal with Handsome Hubby, and all I can say is living la Vida Loca with HH is driving me loca. And in all fairness, he says — well, mutters under his breath — the same thing about me.
We eat together ALL THE TIME.
We watch HIS (dopey crime caper) TV shows EVERY NIGHT.
And we eat HIS vegan food EVERY MEAL.
I listen to him talk LOUDLY into his headset to clients ALL DAY LONG.
Social Distancing for Spouses
In the good old days, when people could go outside, HH traveled too much for work, meeting clients all across the country and world, giving speeches, and attending conferences. Although I complained about it, his traveling provided for some real quality “me” time. I got to catch up on “my” TV shows. I got to go to sensitive, subtitled foreign films. Most wonderful of all, I got to go out for dinners with my girlfriends and eat red meat to my belly’s content. Oh, sweet, not-sheltering-at-home freedom!
Now the backlog of This is Us episodes is so long, I fear I’ll never catch up before somebody spills the beans or I read spoilers. Yet, I worry, truly worry. Will battling brothers Kevin and Randall really have a relationship-ending fight? As the baby sister to three brothers, this idea is devastating.
And, as for my red meat cravings, I’m beginning to understand how the Donner Party felt traversing the Sierra Mountains in the dead of winter. Sometimes when HH sleeps, I eye him and … Oh, let’s not go there. I know it’s wrong.
And That’s Not All
In addition to my grievances over the lengthy list of things we do HH’s way ALL THE TIME, I have a list of tasks he NEVER performs. For example, he NEVER:
- Empties the trash cans in the bathroom, bedroom or his office.
- Empties the little vase of flowers I put on his desk, even after the flowers have dried out.
In addition, he NEVER …
Give me a second.
He NEVER …
Wait … Just another second.
He NEVER …
Well, huh. That’s it. That’s my entire list of grievances — two measly gripes!
After 33 years of marriage — plus five years of dating — plus 30 days of sheltering-in-place, that’s the sum total of my grievances. That’s it. Huh!
My Forever Shelter
Yes, after all that time, I have to admit HH actually is pretty darn perfect. Sure, we’ve had our marital ups and downs, but the truth is he’s a keeper. And, if I didn’t know that before living, working AND doing EVERYTHING together non-stop at-home for 30 days and counting is proof-positive!
And as for my alleged “flaws?” Oh, they are so minor, they’re scarcely worth mentioning. A little nagging? Perhaps. But rarely and only about the damned trash cans. Do I have a tendency to make snarky comments? Well, yes, but only when forced to watch TV shows like NCIS, NCIS LA, and Seal Team? Ladies, can you blame me? Do I whine? Well, yes. I admit whole-heartedly to that “crime.” I whine loudly about wanting steak and burgers. But only at lunch and dinnertime!
So, as you can see, aside from a few hiccups here and there, we’re living in perfect sheltering-in-place harmony. In fact, we’re busy making plans for post-pandemic vacations. We haven’t finalized anything yet. Only one thing is certain — He’s going South and I’m heading North!
📔 📔 📔
A FINAL NOTE
Please be sure to check out my COVID Chronicles: A Sheltering-in-Place Journal. You can find it on my Facebook Muddling through Middle Age page or on my website homepage. You can even subscribe to my COVID Chronicles and receive the daily journal entry in your inbox!
While he was on the phone with one of his kids, I heard Himself say, “It’s a good thing I like Mary!” lol But that was weeks ago. We don’t always eat together, but didn’t before, either. He goes up to his computer or down to his dragons and magic. I pretty much stay on the main floor. We haven’t killed each other, but he is a little tired of me “enlightening” him about a few things like the way he leaves the shower head (so it hits me with cold water when I turn it on) and not turning out the closet light. Ever. Like you, small things. . .still. . .if only I could get into that pool at the YMCA! Even he took a ride one day all by himself and said it felt great. For me, too, to have him gone. lol
Hang in there! Ooh, the showerhead … that is cold! And the closet light … yes, HH does that too. I forgot about that one!
Karen, I feel for you! Have you and HH tried Beyond Burgers or the Impossible Burger?
We do eat them, but for me, they are just not the same. Alas. I guess I am just an unrepentant carnivore!