I really loved this article. If I may predict something, I think that the experience will continue to reverberate (positively) in your relationship much longer than you may think.

I recall an experience our family (two adults, two tweens) had some years back where we spent almost seven weeks in a small (!) apartment in Paris, exploring the city and the vicinity, almost always within 5 meters of one another. There were plusses and minuses, but the best part was after we had returned to our Northern California routines, we could talk about our shared experiences with a connectedness that is quite rare, much like your comments about your shared day.

My thoughts exactly. Charming! I loved both their quiet getting along-ness and the moments of friction. It felt very real.

Real and charming, as opposed to real and gritty.

My husband is about an inch from retiring. We are experimenting with him "working at home." It has taken some time to re-orient. To making 3 meals a day. To letting him know when I'm coming or going.

At first I couldn't write or paint with him at home - I felt like I was always waiting for something.

But we're settling in now. To a pleasant and peaceful co-existence. And the thoughts, words and pictures are coming back. Slolwy.

I wonder what kind of parents we would have been if we could have incorporated some of this ethos when the kids were small.

Very interesting!!