DH and I have gotten good at "being alone together." We might be in the same room (or the same bed), each on our own laptop doing our own thing, occsionally sharing a thought or something we read. Or we might go for a walk on the beach together, one of us may be dawdling and picking up shells (that would be me), or one of us may start walking faster for better exercise (oddly, that would also be me). Or we might be cooking in the kitchen at the same time, each making our own dishes, or one serving as a "galley slave" (washing, peeling, or chopping veg to order) or on clean-up duty. Or we might be sitting on the screen porch, me bird-watching or doing a crossword puzzle, him computing or reading a book. I might say, "I'm fixing some iced tea--want some?" He might say, "I feel like chips and salsa--want some? And would you make that salsa fresca?!" Or only one of us might be interested in a movie or TV show, and the other will normally be in the TV room too, using the laptop or reading. Sometimes we do errands or chores together, sometimes separately. Sometimes we'll put the kids or friends on speakerphone or hand the phone back & forth, sometimes we each have separate conversations with them on separate days. I think my husband annoys me LESS when we're together MORE.
