Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

This Man I Live With

This man that I live with is a real piece of work.  Over the last 54 years I've grown accustomed to his quirks and have learned to accommodate most of them (you understand I have no quirks).


Bob has always preferred used things to getting something new. He loves used clothes, even shoes who've had a previous owner.  See those suspenders? His brother died last year and Bob asked for his suspenders. He would have taken his clothes but his brother was much larger than him. He has a brand new pair of suspenders our daughter bought him but he always goes for this pair of used ones with the food stains.


It was time for some fresh new towels in my bathroom. These towels are the cheapest in the store and on the thin side but that's the kind of towels Bob likes. Granted he won't be using these anytime soon, but I know him, and I can either do this now or buy plush thick towels and listen to him complain every single time he uses one once they've worked their way to his bathroom. I promise you they will wind up in his bathroom once I say I'm done with them.


This morning I removed the bathroom items I've used for the last two years and put out the new. As expected 'Pack Rat Bob' began carrying the old to his bathroom. He doesn't care about color. He then had to part with some of the things he's been using. That's tough for him but I am proud of him.  Looks like he has a pretty good stack of discards going in the hall.

I needed new pillows and I knew Bob needed new pillows for sure because his were in bad shape. When I asked about getting him some he declined. Oh well, sometimes you can only do the next best thing. I bought pillows for me, and put my old ones out to be trashed. Sure enough, next time I passed by my discarded pillows were gone and in their place were his old ratty ones. The ones I discarded were much better than his ratty ones so he's some better off now.

I'm pretty sure at night when I'm sleeping he's in the closet digging a tunnel under the bedroom. Where else could he be stashing all the stuff he carries off that I've thrown out?

15 comments:

  1. You can't fault him for liking used things. I would pay good money for a pair of soft used jeans if I could. I dislike new [hard] jeans, same goes for flannel shirts. Shoes? If I could find some broken-in ones and not have to buy new - I would. As far as the towels go - new ones feel like I'm trying to dry off with a rug and you can't use them to get into all your cracks and crevices. New pillows are too plump. A used book reads the same as a new one, so to speak.

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    1. It's good you and Bob are not married. Everything you owned would be worn out.

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  2. Why is that it's always the guys who have all the quirks? LOL My trick with old towels was not to throw them out or donate them but rather tell my husband they now have a new purpose. I'd cut them up and turn them into rags for washing the cars, floors or whatever else he'd believe and slowly they'd disappear because I'd treat them like paper towel. Once used, throw it out.

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    1. I have an abundance of cleaning rags from old tee shirts. I keep some old towels and especially old washcloths, usually from whatever Bob has thrown out. Anything he parts with is ready for the 'rag bag.'

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  3. It's a given you wouldn't have any quirks, probably only a peccadillo or two as in my case. How about buying the new stuff you want him to have, but putting it out like it was the old stuff you were getting rid of? Do you think he'd go for that?
    Actually, I don't like the real thick wash cloths but do like the heavy thick plush towels that come in the set, so adjust for myself only.

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    1. Hadn't thought about your ideal, it might work. I'll do almost anything to keep the peace.

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  4. OK, OK, now I'm beginning to wonder--is YOUR Bob actually MY Bob??? Pack Rat is sure the right word. I toss some old not used in years item into the trash and next thing I know, there it is either on his so-called 'work bench' or stuffed into one of the 4,count 'em 4, cupboards he has in the garage. How many half used, gone to a solid mass, tubes of glue is actually needed ? Girl, I feel your pain !!

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    1. Oh yes, you understand. It's amazing how much stuff a Pack Rat can carry off to hide in their stash for a future time when they 'might' need it.

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  5. This is so funny! Especially the part about digging a tunnel. How do they get so set in their ways? My daughters tell me that I spoiled Poppy in the beginning. I don't think I have any quirks either. :)

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    1. In my younger days I used to take Bob on about things but these days I seldom cross him. Funny how things that once seemed so important seem unimportant when we get old. We've grown accustomed to each other's faces and now live in peace.

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  6. That is so funny. However, sounds like you've got your own recycle going on and saves a trip to the charity shop. He's a rascal and you are letting him be himself and you're still doing your thing. You two sound like a great combo.

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    1. Oh Barbara, you don't know the half of it. The only two things we've ever agreed on in 54 years is frosted Cheerios. We both like frosted Cheerios.

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  7. Well, after 54 years, I say "Whatever works", and this system seems to be working!

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    1. At this stage it's hard to make change. In fact, these days it's pretty much whatever Bob wants. I seldom cross him anymore.

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  8. This is just too funny and it is cool how you have managed to work around him with out ruffling any feathers.

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