Marriage is about compromise. I know that. But sometimes Art and I have to really work through our differences.
He can tolerate warm temperatures. I like it cool.
In the morning, the kitchen is dark and he's perfectly content. I come in and turn on the lights on my side of the table.
For some reason he likes to read his Kindle Fire in the dark and turns off the overhead light. I like the rooms lighted. Bright.
He likes reading in my office since that's where both our stressless chairs are to watch TV. I don't have to even talk about our movie choices.
He likes our laundry hung up to dry in the sun. I like my clothes tumbled a bit to be fluffy.
He loves to exercise, I.......... you know.
He avoids sweets, salt and fats. Me? Let's not go there.
He's a morning person and I'm an evening person.
He isn't crazy about music when he walks, I need it.
He likes healthy, stinky natto (fermented soybeans) and eggplant. Yuck!
He drives everywhere. My driving scares him.
So yes, we've got lots of differences. I won't even go into the toothpaste. Still, with patience we've managed to stay married over 40 years and had to laugh at each other and at ourselves.
He can tolerate warm temperatures. I like it cool.
For some reason he likes to read his Kindle Fire in the dark and turns off the overhead light. I like the rooms lighted. Bright.
He likes reading in my office since that's where both our stressless chairs are to watch TV. I don't have to even talk about our movie choices.
He likes our laundry hung up to dry in the sun. I like my clothes tumbled a bit to be fluffy.
He loves to exercise, I.......... you know.
He avoids sweets, salt and fats. Me? Let's not go there.
He's a morning person and I'm an evening person.
He isn't crazy about music when he walks, I need it.
He likes healthy, stinky natto (fermented soybeans) and eggplant. Yuck!
He drives everywhere. My driving scares him.
So yes, we've got lots of differences. I won't even go into the toothpaste. Still, with patience we've managed to stay married over 40 years and had to laugh at each other and at ourselves.
Whatever the differences it sounds like you have worked through them very well.
ReplyDeleteI could say the same about my marriage. Lol.
ReplyDeleteTerry and I are opposites, even in appearances. Terry has always said, 'if you're both alike, then one of you isn't necessary.'
ReplyDeleteT think thar you & Art are extraordinary!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe have so many of the same differences. I'm a morning person and my guy is a night person. He walks behind me turning off the lights I just turned on. They say opposites attract, and I'm convinced of it. :-)
ReplyDeleteIs it a case of opposite attracts? I must say that staying together for a long time takes some work and with so many differences both of you must have worked hard at it. Well done!
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely the opposite attracts and it sometimes works very well but not always.
ReplyDeleteIf there is no difference among partners, I think life would have been monotonous..Its good to have some differences..I think it spices up relationships..
ReplyDeleteIf I may be so bold, you both appear to me to be basically reading the same book if not always on the same page. It's a little bit like the soup you mentioned in the previous posting with various foods put in to make things interesting.
ReplyDeleteWonderful comment, Hank. I do believe you're right.
DeleteSame here for 44 years. He collects, I head for the Goodwill. He counts, I spell. And on and on.
ReplyDeleteRon and I were complete opposites except when it came to being pack rats and that was a shame. One of us should have been less of a collector. Our poor kids are going to have a mess to clear out.
ReplyDeleteI think thats why our marriages work, its our differences that make life, well, ummm, interesting, lol, yuk NATTO!!!!! That I do not like at all!!
ReplyDeleteThose are pretty common differences in marriage but you guys make it work where others chafe at the bit and look elsewhere.. I think the big thing is that you all can laugh about it all and really, none of them are deal breakers.
ReplyDeleteI predict another forty years of sorting it out.
ReplyDeleteClearly you both find your differences tolerable and that is the important issue, I think. I would not want to be married to anyone exactly like me!
ReplyDeleteBut haven't these 40 years flown by? And I bet they have if there is still laughing 40 years in!
ReplyDeleteyou have a great marriage, hail to the differences, maybe that's why it works!
ReplyDeleteWhat is it they say, "Opposites attract opposites!"
ReplyDeleteI think Art would like my hubby...lots in common...hugs to you
ReplyDelete"He drives everywhere. My driving scares him."
ReplyDeleteOh that's me and Daisy too. She didn't even have her license when I met her, and without my help she would have never gotten it. Taught her for awhile but ended up getting her private driving lessons.
Tom and I have a few differences too, but the longer we are together, the more alike we've become.
ReplyDeleteWe can live with the little differences as long as we share the same goals and belief systems.
We are alike in so many ways and in other ways we are just like you and Art. We laugh about those differences all the time.
ReplyDeleteThese are the kinds of differences you can live with.
ReplyDeletethere are no two couples exactly alike...lol!
ReplyDelete32 years and i haven't killed paul yet. i'm proud of that!
ReplyDeleteit sounds like you've made it work quite well over your 40 yrs together. may you be blessed with many more happy years and compromise. have a great night~
ReplyDeleteWell your marriage has worked for over 40 years, compromise must be working and love..We will be married for 40 years soon in May it is also my 66th birthday, we compromise on everything. My hubs a stickler the way he dresses me not so much, he has to have his haircut just right, I don't care much for haircutting, no more dyeing my hair, I look presentable..He is a dandy I am an earth/hippy person, but neat and clean, it is important what is inside far more than the outward appearances, I believe in karma he believes in a god of rightenous, I think all living creatures deserve our attention he likes reyhound doggies, I am a cat person, he is a morning person and I mean morning up at the crack of dawn, I am a night person..we are happy and our only child is single cause she cannot meet anyone like her dad..can you imagine? Happy happy trips to where you go, seems you are so happy together..ciao from mjs mainland in the usa Washington state!
ReplyDeleteHello MJS! Thank you so much for your comment. I'm sorry I didn't get to reply sooner. I've been so tangled up in writing about our Southeast Asia trip and was gone for a month before on the trip itself so I didn't see your comment. It was in my comment moderation box and I didn't see it. Compromising is definitely necessary in making a marriage work. I do love your comment and hope you'll see this and come back to chat again.
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