Partners

These days I’m appreciating the practical side to having a partner. Regardless of whether it’s a husband, wife, roommate, or other family member. Assuming that person does more to help than hinder, it really is a huge comfort and support.

I’m finding it really challenging to keep up with everything, even when I actually find the ever-elusive energy to launch into all the details of running a household—running a life. I wouldn’t say that I didn’t appreciate the value of all the things that Pete did for us because I really did. I always knew that he was taking a huge load off of my shoulders every day. What I didn’t realize was just how heavy that load was.

My head just spins with lists of tasks that need to be done every day—every year! From small, mundane (but must be done) tasks like laundry and housekeeping, to major, can’t miss deadline things like taxes and paying bills.  I’m not even considering the professional workload we shared. That’s for another day/blog. I’m just talking about the living-your-life tasks.

I’ve lived by myself before, but it was so many years ago, and it was when I didn’t own my residence, and frankly didn’t have as many possessions either. Or kids. I could keep up with it then. Life was simpler, but certainly not better. I’m not longing to go back to that place in time. In fact, during that place in time, I longed for this place in time—well, not exactly this place in time—but for a time when I made my own schedule, did work I loved, and owned my own place. Tah-dah!  It’s here.

Along with the workload comes a world of decisions—some major, some minor—but with a spinning head they are all difficult to make at times. It’s hard not having that second opinion on anything from a purchase to a paint color. Which person to hire to do work on the house? Is the plumber overcharging? Is this a job I should learn to do myself, or do I hire somebody? How bad does the driveway have to get before I should really look into having it resurfaced? Aaahhh!

And working on all of this alone makes it way too easy to procrastinate. There’s no partner to hold my feet to the fire on deadlines. I have great respect for my friends who get it all done by themselves. If you do have a partner of some sort, rejoice! Even if they don’t do it all the way you might do it, at least you have another set of hands for all the juggling.

The pace and distraction are good for me, but this is not the life for a perfectionist. It’s a fly by the seat of my pants, hurry up and slide in under the wire 24/7 kind of life—At least until I get it all figured out.

I know that money can’t buy love, but it sure as heck could buy a support staff!