The Odd Couple

We have all laughed at the antics of Felix and Oscar of the Odd couple for years. It's funny but part of why it's funny is because it's so true. Ok, they are caricatures of reality maybe but we all know someone who is very neat and very particular about things and we all know someone who couldn't care less about those details.

However, every couple has to combine the rituals they know with those of their spouse. Do you celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning or afternoon. There are all kinds of different traditions. Do you clean up your dishes right after you use them or leave them in the sink and clean them up before going to bed. Maybe you like to do them in the morning. Do you pay bills every week or only once a month. We have all had arguments over leaving something out or keeping something clean or not.

You see we all have our "clutter quotient". We aren't comfortable unless there's a certain amount of clutter around us. Some people like lots of accessories, some are minimalist, some are somewhere in the middle. Some people never throw anything away, others are brutal and throw it out if you haven't used it in 3 months.

Each person in the couple may have different "clutter quotients" and you have to figure out what works for the two of you. Be patient, discuss it quietly and you won't be calling each other Felix and Oscar.