A fellow blogger asked, "What is a typical night for you as a couple?"
That brought me to the realization that I'm getting EXACTLY what I wanted out of my relationship w/ My Sailor. Delicious adventure coupled with day-to-day comforts. Now, one could argue that we haven't been together long enough to establish a "routine", but I think we're both just very busy, so we make the time we have count. Being pretty independent people who have come together, we grow together but also have a remarkable oppurtunity to support one another in our pursuits. If you've followed my blog, you know adjusting to military life isn't entirely an easy adjustment, but at the same time, he's had to adjust to the lifestyle of a Not So Starving Artist. Meaning, if I'm not working my day job, I'm neck deep in theater, scrapbooking, writing, etc. I wouldn't describe it as "distracted", but more "full".
But there are pieces of our day that are fairly routine. For example, we get up at about the same time every morning (around 6-6:20am). He gets ready for work while I get dressed, walk the dog, and get breakfast ready. We do eat breakfast together every morning, at the table (when he doesn't have a 48 hour shift). No tv on, no screens, and while there isn't a whole lot of conversation going on that early in the morning, it gives me time to collect my thoughts and find an upbeat thought to start the day with. (I'm not always a "morning person", but once I've given myself a chance to drink a glass of water and wake up a bit, I can usually find something positive to start the day off on the right foot.)
Other than that, the evening "routine" is mostly My Sailor's.
He makes his daily calls to family and friends in the car on his way home from work (I'm usually driving). That's followed by getting home and taking off the uniform, showering, and thus ends the routine. From there, we figure out what errands need to be run, housework needs to be done, and dinner needs to be made and go from there.
Tonight will be different, though. I have rehearsal before he gets off work, so he'll be taking the ferry and walking to the theater to pick up the car after work. I'll see him when I get out of rehearsal, probably around 8-9pm tonight. So we'll be fending for ourselves for dinner - unless I get off work early enough to make dinner and put something in the fridge for him - which isn't a bad idea... So I can make sure he has something health for dinner that he doesn't have to think about at the end of a long day (see our health/fitness blog here).
And it's consideration like that that keeps us linked. When I've had a long day at rehearsal (my rehearsals are on the weekends, so I work all week and rehearse all weekend), I'll often find that he did the grocery shopping (buying a bunch of the fresh stuff that I love) or the housework because I've been too busy to do it.
See, a big part of life, for us, is setting each other up for success. I know neither of us loves the fact that we are so busy and that it takes us away from each other so much. But it gives us a great chance to really "be there" for each other without being able to physically be there.
I've always viewed life as an adventure.
But if you view life as a new adventure each day, or if you enjoy the comfort of the day-to-day routines, there is sweetness to be found every day in the littlest of things.
Sounds like you've found a way to adjust to the busy schedules and know what works for you. That's all that really matters!
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