Scooter Saga

The Tenison family moved to their new home this week. They are happy campers and so are we–sort of.  We love that our children and their families choose to boomerang back during transitions.  Certainly, we've learned that this house is accommodating and spacious enough to be comfortably multi–generational*.  But, it's always the same—balancing our enthusiasm for a 'new life adventure' with relearning how to be 'empty nesters' again.  When asked how Earl and I were doing with the Tenison family in their own home, we would say "fine, great".  That was true, to be sure, but it also had some downsides. The Tenison Home Life will be much simpler for the housekeepers and Sandie.**  Working in a single house with two individual routines couldn't have been easy.  Initially, it was just Heidi and me during the day.  Then Earl retired and there were 3 generals*** on the premises. It's not that we were three warring camps, just different camp...

One would think this household merger didn't involve the needs of Earl and Michael; it's all about me and Heidi.  Well, that's true, but she and I are halves (granted, the better half) of a married couple.  For the most part, the four of us agree about the upsides and downsides of co-habitation.  But I started thinking, there must be unique concerns to the other half. Full disclosure:   Heidi's and my ataxia aside, this is a traditional, financially solvent household (that is no small deal) .  We are two women married to two working, salaried men who leave the house before 8 am and usually return before 6 pm.  That said, the marriages have historically been fairly equitable.  Both men shop, clean, cook and take direction.  Actually, Michael does more cleaning; Earl does more cooking. Heidi and Michael have been together 20 years.  Getting to housemate know another person (even a son-in-law) is the more salient issue.  Even though ...

What happens when you have two women, one house, two housekeepers, one personal assistant and different ways of doing things?  It could be contentious, but so far, it hasn't been.  The significant thing is that Heidi and I have help to share.  Casa de Schuman is no 'South Fork', but the house is well laid out, compartmentalized and lends itself to separate living.  We are pretty adaptable and anticipated an adjustment period going into this merger.  Heidi and I may be driving Sandie and the housekeepers crazy, but we're doing fine.  The really interesting phenomenon is that even with more bodies and traffic, she and I do a better job staying on top of daily order than before. I've had the same housekeeper for 18 years; it's a personal relationship.  The good news is, she's younger than me.  The bad news is, she isn't a good deal younger than me and deals with the usual aches and pains of midlife.  However, I'm fortunate to be retired ...