There is a saying (and I think there are even books with the title) I married you for better or worse, but not for lunch. This is something I've heard said in my association with my friends that are reaching retirement age.
Retirement, they say, can be rough on a marriage.
In my experience... they are right.
I remember back, waaaaay back (in December 2011), I saw a facebook status of a young mother claiming she wished her husband didn't have to go to work, EVER! I took a few rough comments on this blog post, as well as getting blocked on facebook by the woman that posted the facebook status. Well, let me tell you, it's not as great as you think it will be.
First of all, believe it or not, your spouse is living their own life. They are not hanging on a hook waiting to see what you would like them to do. I only mention this because I think this would have been news to the woman that posted the facebook status.
In my experience my husband left his job a year and a half before I lost my job. He no longer calls himself a retired person. He now calls himself a full-time student. Anyway, the point is that he was home, by himself, quite a while before I was home, all day, with him. He had settled into a nice little routine. When I started being home, all day, with him he didn't adjust to the disruption of his schedule very well. Sure, the first few weeks were fine. I'd even go so far as to call them fun. I applied for unemployment. He didn't think I would qualify. I did qualify. He was surprised. That gave us something to talk about for a week or two. We interacted. He spent a little time with me.
Then..., he wanted to get back to his routine. And..., he wanted me to get a routine.
And I didn't have one yet.
On Monday my husband told me my vacation was OVER and I needed to start DOING something. Hilarious. He said a bunch of other equally hilarious things that weren't very nice, but meant to motivate me.
I think he forgot that, just like him, I'm living my own life. Unfortunately for him, my life includes spending time blogging, reading blogs, working on the bible study I'm putting together for my small group, and... sometimes watching Real Housewives. I think it was the housewives that put him over the edge. I try to watch more CNBC than Housewives, but sometimes I just gotta have me some Housewives. The other thing, I think, he has an issue with is my development of a sedentary lifestyle. He wants me to exercise. So, as I said on Monday, I broke through that barrier and started walking around the neighborhood. It's a start.
For better or worse, I love my husband. We will learn to spend our days together in the same house. I know we can do it. I don't need to talk to him all day. I don't need him to help me do the things I need to do each week, like look for a job. I don't need him to shame me into exercising. My friends that have retired have told me that it's important to watch out for weight gain. Being home all day can allow someone to be a little too close to the refrigerator. Dangerous.
So, for better or worse, I will learn to be home all day with my husband. I will look for two jobs each week, and I will go for walks around the neighborhood 4 (or 3) times each week. I can do this thing.
547. Working in the garden
548. Going to lunch with a friend
549. Hot tea when I feel the sniffles coming on
550. Having a husband who loves me enough to accept me for who I am
551. Looking forward to trick or treaters
Retirement, they say, can be rough on a marriage.
In my experience... they are right.
I remember back, waaaaay back (in December 2011), I saw a facebook status of a young mother claiming she wished her husband didn't have to go to work, EVER! I took a few rough comments on this blog post, as well as getting blocked on facebook by the woman that posted the facebook status. Well, let me tell you, it's not as great as you think it will be.
First of all, believe it or not, your spouse is living their own life. They are not hanging on a hook waiting to see what you would like them to do. I only mention this because I think this would have been news to the woman that posted the facebook status.
In my experience my husband left his job a year and a half before I lost my job. He no longer calls himself a retired person. He now calls himself a full-time student. Anyway, the point is that he was home, by himself, quite a while before I was home, all day, with him. He had settled into a nice little routine. When I started being home, all day, with him he didn't adjust to the disruption of his schedule very well. Sure, the first few weeks were fine. I'd even go so far as to call them fun. I applied for unemployment. He didn't think I would qualify. I did qualify. He was surprised. That gave us something to talk about for a week or two. We interacted. He spent a little time with me.
Then..., he wanted to get back to his routine. And..., he wanted me to get a routine.
And I didn't have one yet.
On Monday my husband told me my vacation was OVER and I needed to start DOING something. Hilarious. He said a bunch of other equally hilarious things that weren't very nice, but meant to motivate me.
I think he forgot that, just like him, I'm living my own life. Unfortunately for him, my life includes spending time blogging, reading blogs, working on the bible study I'm putting together for my small group, and... sometimes watching Real Housewives. I think it was the housewives that put him over the edge. I try to watch more CNBC than Housewives, but sometimes I just gotta have me some Housewives. The other thing, I think, he has an issue with is my development of a sedentary lifestyle. He wants me to exercise. So, as I said on Monday, I broke through that barrier and started walking around the neighborhood. It's a start.
For better or worse, I love my husband. We will learn to spend our days together in the same house. I know we can do it. I don't need to talk to him all day. I don't need him to help me do the things I need to do each week, like look for a job. I don't need him to shame me into exercising. My friends that have retired have told me that it's important to watch out for weight gain. Being home all day can allow someone to be a little too close to the refrigerator. Dangerous.
So, for better or worse, I will learn to be home all day with my husband. I will look for two jobs each week, and I will go for walks around the neighborhood 4 (or 3) times each week. I can do this thing.
 |
| For better or worse |
548. Going to lunch with a friend
549. Hot tea when I feel the sniffles coming on
550. Having a husband who loves me enough to accept me for who I am
551. Looking forward to trick or treaters
so true... I am retired, busy but retired and when my husband is home. it is a funny challenge at times.
ReplyDeletesmiles...yes you can...and i am watching...because eons from now when i get to retire i need to know how to do this...ha...but i can appreciate as i used to work afternoon and evenings...and on days when my wife worked from home we had somewhat similar tensions.
ReplyDeleteWe are both retired and stay so busy. After working for over 30 years, we are now enjoying doing so many things. Be easy on yourself.
ReplyDelete