My husband retired just as we became empty nesters. Now we're together nearly 24/7, and it's been a strange adjustment.
My husband and I used to have busy, individual lives. But now we are together all the time, and have no idea how to navigate our new normal.
When the author and her husband became empty nesters, he retired as well, leading to them spending nearly all their time together. After being married for 32 years and together for 26 years, the couple realized they had never spent this much time with each other. Their home now feels different, as there are more unstructured hours without school or work schedules.
They have had to adjust to the change, having honest conversations and drafting wish lists for things they can do with all their time together. The author, an introverted writer, and her husband, an extroverted adventurer, have had to create a new rhythm in their day, with mornings for planning and mealtimes as natural meeting points.
They have also had to learn to set boundaries and give each other space, especially since their similar backgrounds led to them becoming overly attached to each other. Despite the challenges, they are learning to balance their time together and apart, and enjoy each other's company more.
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