Sharing spaces

[Lynda Kamrath]

Summer is here and we take care of a couple of dogs (at different times) while their families are traveling.  One dog arrives today and so the old questions come up - bed, food, eating area, etc.  So my old question comes up - How does a clutter queen (or king) share spaces with a neat nic?  Yep, I am the clutter queen and my husband is the neat nic.  He feels there should be a place for everything and everything in its place.  He also feels that when you bring something new into the house, something old has to go.  Today it was "Where do you want me to put your hairclips?"  To which I responded, "Leave them where they are." "But they are all over the counter!" "Yes, just leave them there."  So it begins.  We have worked it out for 35 years, so I guess we will work it out again, but I hate asking where my things are because they have been put away in some appropriate place.

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

I'm the CDO neat nic and everyone else that enters my house is a slobby pig.  LOL  But I live with it as do they and close bedroom and office doors so I don't have to see the disorderly mess.  (BTW, even the drawer with hair stuff is organized.)

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yep, you sound like my DH all right.

[Christine & Camus]

One of the jys of living alone is there is no arguing with anyone but myself!  However, many years ago I tried sharing a house with a friend.  I was the neat-nic, and she was the one who like to live "comfortably".  I had no idea that my compulsive need for order and somewhat obsessive cleaning drove her nuts, until it was too late.  It was worse than when I was married to a messy husband, because he did not seem to care. 

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yes, I have used the expression obsessive/compulsive many times with my husband, but he doesn't seem to calm down.  I think most people expect women to be like that, but not men.  He definitely fits the description.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

You have survived this long together, so you must have it figured out :)

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

My husband is oblivious to messes and cannot pass a counter without leaving something (mail, keys, wallet) on it.  I run in spurts.  He also has no clue where most things are kept-I know where everything is in this house!  But he does empty the dishwasher every morning and does a lot of the cooking, so he is a keeper!