They say that opposites attract. And while I am inclined to believe that true opposites would never be able to coexist successfully for a lifetime, Scott and I definitely have several fundamental differences that push us very close to that category.

Here are a few of our most obvious differences:

1. Scott is not a bed-guy. At the crack of dawn, that man is up – walking dogs, making coffee (and bringing it to me…), and ready to go. Weekends included.  Me? If I never had to get out of bed, that would be bliss.

2. Scott eats first thing in the morning. Once he’s up – breakfast is on. I’d rather wait three hours and several cups of coffee later before I eat. I know it’s not healthy, but it’s what I prefer.

3. The man seldom puts on sweatpants until he is absolutely positive we are in for the night. He’ll go to the gym after work, shower, and STILL put on jeans if we are hanging in for the evening. As for me, the door barely shuts behind me when I get home from work before there is a path of discarded garments on the way to the bedroom as I hunt for comfy clothes.

4. I love meat – but Scott is all about protein. Everything is judged by the protein content, while I could eat veggies for life and never notice the difference. Hello, guacamole.

5. Speaking of food – you’ll never meet a bigger sweet-tooth than Scott. When I met him, he admitted that he was incapable of going to a grocery store without perusing the candy aisle. Twizzlers, chocolate, cookies – any type of dessert and he is in heaven. I’d rather take three more helpings of savory dinner food than touch dessert. And if a late night snack is a must, I’ll pick popcorn over ice cream any day.

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6. Scott is a “yes” man. I find it rather admirable that he lives by the motto “if you can say ‘yes’, you should.” I tend to be a little more protective of my time and my energy, as it seems I never have enough even for the basic everyday obligations. I was always coached that it was ok to say “no” sometimes, and I tend to err on the “no” rather than the “yes”. He’s been good for me that way – I’m bitter at first when he has said yes to something, but after the fact I’m usually glad he did.

7. Scott tends to be a little more liberal with his funds, while I am a miser through and through. I am a scrimper/saver, and Scott lives a little. Striking a balance here has proven very healthy for us both.

8. On that note, Scott is an adventurer. Maybe not in the traditional sense of the word, but he is always up for something new. While my sense of adventure is usually reserved for weekends and holidays, Scott is playful as the day is long and could reroute in a moment’s notice. I’m much more the home-body.

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9. I’m by nature an academic and pursuer of the arts.  I love to read, watch classic film, tread the boards, and if $$ wasn’t an issue, I’d be enrolled in school until the day I died and have several arts degrees under my belt. I’m not interested in everyday affairs and practical things like politics, but Scott is one of the most well-versed people I know when it comes to current affairs and the news. He remembers everything – and can talk to anyone about a political news bite from 15 years ago. It’s incredible. However, he has a huge respect for the arts and enjoys it with me, while I have developed a bit more appreciation for being up-to-speed with the world.

10. Scott buries his insecurities. This is perhaps one of the most interesting things about him – I wear mine on my sleeve and written all over the fine lines in my face, but this confident man never lets his cards show when it comes to matters of deep importance.  His emotions about me? He shows me all day/every day. But the deep-seeded insecurities are kept close.

11. I’m much more confrontational than Scott. He hates discord and would move mountains to keep things harmonious. I tend to latch onto an uncomfortable moment  in order to figure it out – not because I love it, but I can’t stand ignoring it. This has led to some awkward moments in the way we handle disagreements, but we are learning a lot about the way we react and are developing ways to cope with difficult moments.

12. I’m a DIY-er to the very core. I plan on purchasing another fixer-upper, while Scott wouldn’t mind a turn-key, luxurious new model. He was raised a city mouse, while I’m country mouse all the way. As our relationship has progressed though, I find that Scott has many more country tendencies than I thought, and I think if the situation was right, would thrive on a country road. Time will tell :)

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13. Scott loves going to the gym, while I think the place is evil. I’ll go whenever I feel guilty enough about my current level of fitness, but he tries to go every day. I would much rather go on long walks, play field hockey, ride my horse, or commit 10 hours to hard manual labor at home on the farm. But a stationary treadmill?? Not for me.

Ok, after reading this over I feel intensely lazy. It’s time to get out of bed and go to the gym….

Tell us: are you and your significant other opposites? Or very much the same? How do you handle the innate differences?

-Al