lemon.

Cohabitaish

emmaleah:

In response to Lemon’s recent post, I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a successful cohabitative state. My boyfriend and I were roommates before we were a couple (which you already know, because I am endlessly amused by this fact and repeat it here ad nauseam); when we decided to “move in” move in together, it was a matter of moving my comforter and endless stash of tank tops into his room. Which is a whole ‘nother story.

• Gratitude. “Thank you for washing the dishes,” or “Thanks for folding the laundry” goes a long way. To me, it’s just recognizing the things that he or she does to make your life a little bit easier. Consequently, do those things that make your partner’s life a little bit easier.
• Timing. 8 AM on a hectic Wednesday is not the time to observe, “Honey, we have to do something about your shoes” or “We really need to hang that painting.” Sure, we do, but talking about it when we’re both scrambling out the door is just going to leave us frustrated.
• Break the routine once in a while. Wake up half an hour early and have breakfast at the diner, or meet for happy hour somewhere new.
• I don’t drink orange juice, and Mike doesn’t eat yogurt, but we know each other’s daily staples and remember to shop for them.
• It’s really wonderful to come home late from work to dinner. And beer. Not an endless round of “I dunno, what do you want to do for din?”
• Crack each other up. All it takes is for him to say “basil” in a made-up, exaggerated pseudo-British accent to make me laugh. 

I realize that this is not groundbreaking relationship territory, Carrie Bradshaw, and a lot of this is based in common courtesy. But these little snippets make life in our domicile so great.

For all those cohabitating: some solid advice. I love this.