1. Retirement Conundrum
Marie thought she was too young to retire. Then again, she wanted to do some more things in life and didn’t want to wait until she couldn’t hardly get around to do them. So, when her husband had decided he was ready, she’d joined him in retirement.
They had initially made plans to travel, rent out their house, live abroad for a while. But all that had to wait since Marie’s mother was at a nursing home and she didn’t feel right leaving her for long periods of time. After all, she didn’t have long left.
Besides, she loved her house. Sure, it was too large for them now, but their kids would likely want to come back to their own rooms from time to time. At least, that’s what Marie hoped. They had two of their kids still in college and one was out with her first job.
Unfortunately, her husband, Ray, did not want to stay in the town they had called home for the last twenty years. He was itching to leave, find a new, smaller, more sensible house to live in. They had fought about it. Yelled, cried, and argued. But they could not agree to a course of action together.
So… they had separated. Not legally, but they now inhabited different places. Marie stayed in their overly large California house and Raymond found a small house by a lake in Virginia he liked. It wasn’t ideal, but they didn’t want to divorce; they just wanted different things right now in their lives. It happens. Marie had been a bit sad over it, but it seemed like the best compromise.
They had looked at houses in Virginia together, picked one out together, and split up their household items to fill the small place. She picked the colors to paint the walls that were in need of some attention. They organized the new place together and made love in their new bed.
Ray’s mom and dad were only a couple of hours away by car from the new lake house. He could look in on them when he needed to. They were each only children so now the care of their parents fell solely to them. It made sense that, at least for a while, they would spend time apart.
The love in their marriage was still there. They had raised three children together who they still helped and stayed in contact with. But now as empty nesters, that was not a reason to stay in the same place either.
After almost a month at the new lake house, Marie had gone back to California and Ray had stayed behind. She visited her mom several times a week. Her youngest son came by to see her, do his laundry and eat her home cooked meals since he was in a college nearby. She had her small circle of friends that would meet for coffee and walks in the park. She also had her music ensemble practice which gave her something to do and, as she insisted, keep her mind sharp by practicing her clarinet.
One night, talking to Raymond, they decided they could see other people if they wanted as long as they didn’t keep secrets from each other. Marie was hurt initially, thinking that Ray had already found a love interest for himself. But when she’d asked, he said no, but he had joined a few clubs and thought he might make some women friends. They had both agreed they didn’t want a divorce. They wanted to stay together, but have some time apart. That was all.
“Do you think you’ll find someone to… err… you know?” Ray asked her.
“No. I’m not looking for that. I have my music friends, but most of them are married. At least I think so. I hadn’t ever asked everyone. I’m not sure people our age are that, shall we say, open to such things?” Marie explained. They laughed together.
“Maybe not,” he agreed and yawned. “It’s late here. I love you. Talk to you later.”
“Okay, I love you, too,” Marie had replied.
So, the decision was made to open their marriage, but with no prospects in sight for either of them, what difference did that make?
