SISTER WISDOM

I love romance, but I’m not a big fan of commercializing love. Joe and I have never made a big deal out of Valentine’s Day, for example. (Oh, I missed it again this year? Silly me.) He’s a rebel, and I’m a hippie. Or is he a hippie and I’m a rebel? I can’t remember. Despite the rebel-hippie combination, we still like being romantic and having special times together. I guess it’s just that our version of romance may differ a bit from other people’s. But maybe our ideas will work for you? Is the rebel-hippie in you?

1. Sleeping bags on the roof.

A few snacks, something to drink. Cuddle, talk, watch the stars, discuss how you should really study astronomy and learn the constellations better, make Nostradamus-like predictions, go inside when you get cold and warm each other up.

2. Get lost in the woods.

Pack a picnic and take a hike together. Take a blanket, too.

3. See how little money you can eat on.

I find this whole activity entertaining, and it’s actually resulted in some great meals. Forced creativity is sure to create sparks of one kind or another.

4. Have a grocery store picnic.

You can combine this with #3, above, or splurge. Pick up some fresh fruit, crackers and cheese, or your favorite deli choice. (Maybe hold off on those pepperoncinis.) A picnic doesn’t have to be outside, by the way.

5. Have dinner on the floor in front of the fire.

Cook together. Make a great fire. Spread out a few blankets. Enjoy your meal. Relax. Play strip poker.

6. Buy each other silly underwear.

Then model…

7. Have a Dollar Store spending spree.

You each get $5 or $10 to buy each other’s gifts: any kind of gifts, silly, sweet, romantic. Set a time limit and meet outside when you’re through. Exchange gifts then or save them for later over your fireside dinner.

8. Climb trees.

I love climbing trees. If I weren’t 8 months pregnant, I’d go climb one now just to prove it. It’s good exercise, gets your blood pumping and your adrenalin flowing and whoever gets to the top first can throw acorns (or what-have-you) at the other.

9. Do some bookstore browsing.

Take your time. Read to each other. Browse magazines together.

10. Visit a random small town in the area.

There are some jewels around. You can find a great local restaurant, unique shopping, friendly people, or just a little local escape. Take a drive and enjoy the time together.

11. Watch documentaries.

I’m a nerd. I admit it. My husband is into computers, so I think that makes him a geek. (A cool geek, though; I mean, he skateboards. How can you skateboard and not be cool?) So we like documentaries. You could find a romantic one for Valentine’s, maybe?

12. Cook for each other.

You do the main dish, he does the dessert, or some other combination. Don’t rush. Have some snacky appetizers around so you can enjoy the process. And definitely don’t criticize each other’s cooking.

13. Bathe or shower together.

Do I really need to explain why this is romantic?

14. Take a bus trip.

Okay, public transportation may not be at the top of your ‘Romantic Things To Do’ list, but it could be! You get to sit close, whisper, watch the scenery… even if it is the highway. Try it.

15. Take a train trip.

I love the train. You can make it a day trip or an overnight trip, depending on your destination and time frame. You can be social and chat with other passengers, or be secluded and focus on each other. Take your own snacks, though. Train food, in my experience, is not so good.

16. Go to a museum.

Admire (or make fun of) the displays together. Critique or question. Pick out which one you’d hang in the living room.

17. Work together.

A shared project, a completed goal: that’s romantic. Appreciate each other’s work styles. Share strengths. Admit weaknesses. Feel accomplished together.

18. Do a house project together.

Anything can be romantic if you start being creative. Set a reward for completing the project.

19. Play with your kids together.

Nothing makes me feel as affectionate as seeing my husband in action as a great Daddy. Resist the urge to instruct your spouse in how to parent. Just relax and enjoy that his style might be a little different than yours. You might even learn something.

20. Have a his thing/her thing trade-off.

Okay, so we know that you don’t share all the same interests. But you can learn and participate and perhaps even gain some kind of appreciation for why he’s so obsessive about whatever-it-is. So he picks an activity and you pick one. Could be all in the same day or evening, or spread out over a couple of nights. The only rule: you have to be enthusiastic and try to learn all you can about the other person’s interest during the activity.

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Image courtesy of erin MC hammer.