Three years of wedded bliss

This post reminds me that I started this blog more than a year ago. Last year I was forcing myself to remember that trying to have a baby wasn't all that has happened in two years. This year, despite everything that happened in the past 12 months celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary has been a very happy event.

In the office this week one of the younger blokes (29 years old - really not that young I guess) asked me and another married colleague what was good about being married. Put on the spot I don't think we did our best to sell the institute of marriage. With a little more time to think about it, here's what I've come up with.

My 10 favourite things about being married:
1. Even the small things are more enjoyable with company, a cup of coffee, meals, reading the newspaper.

2. I'm always thinking about something and it is great to have someone to bounce ideas off. Of course, this isn't one of Matt's favourite things about marriage. We call it talking in draft. Matt sometimes wants to know what's draft and what's final.

3. Planning together. It is really nice to work toward common goals and achieve them. Things that make our lives better together.

4. Creating shared rituals. Matt and I have discovered our own perfect holiday location. We've been there three years in a row, and I look forward to when we will be able to say we've holidaying there for 20 years.

5. Emotional support and back up. I remember when I broke up with a very serious ex-boyfriend I was devastated. I was so bad I was unable to eat (for me, that is bad), I couldn't laugh or have fun, I was relentlessly sad. I remember my uncle saying to me at the time, "this is not the worst thing that you are going to have happen in your life, you will get over this". I've thought about this statement a lot this year when I've had much worse things happen in my life and thought, my uncle was so right. The funny thing is, it hasn't seemed as bad, with Matt to help and support me. You can deal with so much more when you have the right people in your life.

6. Financial flexibility. We don't argue about money in our household, which is great. We've both had opportunities to improve ourselves individually with the financial support of the other. Matt's had a year off to study and quickly secured a better job and now I have the opportunity to work part-time. I guess this is a little like achieving our common goals - we decide what's best for us and do what we must to make it work. Even it that means cooking a million different varieties of dinners with mince meat  :)

7. Affection. My young work colleague thought one of the perks of being single was surprise kisses on the dance floor, which I guess would fall under the same heading. Wedded affection may not always be spontaneous, but you can pretty much be sure, you'll get the hug when you need it most and a snuggle on a cold night.

8. Having a fall guy. Sometimes you just don't want to go to the work christmas drinks or other such events. Now if I want to weasel out of something I get to blame the husband for pre-booking us to some other social occasion without first consulting the calendar.

9. Sharing the chores around. I think I am a good wife but I'm undeniably a very bad housewife. Now some of my least favourite chores Matt doesn't mind doing (eg the laundry) and some of Matt's least favourite chores I don't mind doing (eg the grocery shopping and cooking). Then there are the rest of the chores we both hate doing, but with the hour of power system, we both hook in together for 1 hour each week (or so....) and just get it done. What ever doesn't get done in the hour, we have agreed to live with.

10. Even more family. I've always been close with my own family, but we are pretty small. With Matt I got a much bigger family. I have newphews, so I still have the joy (and occasional trials!) of having children around me without yet having my own. Family can be trying sometimes, but I like the way you can bounce back and all is forgiven. I love having a bigger family with a whole new range of characters.

I've really enjoyed writing this post.  :)