Do you and your OH like the same things?

[Gemini]

We must all enjoy some things which our OH's do, or there wouldn't be a relationship, but are you a couple who like all the same things, or are there things you enjoy that the other dislikes, and vice versa?
For us, we both enjoy spending time with friends and family, eating out either just us or with others. We like trips out. There are several TV programmes we both like,

She loves sports I don't at all. I love theatre and cinema. Both, especially theatre have been part of my whole life. OH does not come from such a background. She would have been out rallying, at discos etc when I was at theatres and cinemas! She will go and see a play or film once in a while, but not often. She would never go to Shakespeare.
At a friends party last week our different attitude to such nights was obvious. I was happy to sit on comfy armchairs in the corner and talk to the couple of people I knew, in passing. I knew no one well except the party couple. I was happy with OH people watching and didnt want to sit with strangers She would have preferred to sit at a bigger table so people would join us.

I do miss having someone to go to the theatre and cinema with. I do sometimes go with a DD or friend, or alone, but it is nice to go as a couple!

[Oma]

We like most things , apart from football we like the same sort of TV , we both enjoy the theatre when we get the chance but tends to be something light hearted ,
Love having meals out with friends or on our own
I think we are both social people and like to meet new people but we also ok with just our own company

[Enfys]

We like the same things mostly, just one or two differences. Like you Gem, I enjoy theatre, musicals, ballet etc. But it’s not DHs thing at all, so we don’t go. Very rarely I go with a friend but otherwise I just don’t go. He enjoys anything car related but the same thing applies, I don’t so he doesn’t go anywhere to watch anything. It doesn’t bother us at all, there are so many things we enjoy doing together and we have our own interests. He has his bowls and video/camera club and I have my family history and art and meeting friends for coffee. Luckily we agree about social events, would much rather go to a smaller do rather than anything too big and glitzy. We both like meeting friends for a meal or a walk and getting together with the family. So it all works out very well for us. I think after 52years something must be working right 😀

[Daisy]

Most of our social life is made up of things we do/go to together, but we do have some groups of friends - like my friends from College - who are 'separate'. We do more things separately now than before we retired, mainly because we have more time. OH is enjoying both wood turning and the friendly WT club he joined, and we have become friendly with several members plus their OHs. I don't mind parties, even if I don't know anybody - I can always find people to chat to, or I'm also happy to sit quietly and people watch. OH will just join in - he doesn't need introductions!

We've got the same tastes in music, which is lovely.

There is very little on tv that interests us both, so usually OH watches lots of things that he enjoys but I don't.

OH is very sociable and has always been used to living in a house where the front door is permanently open to all our friends, and although I didn't grow up in that kind of household, I'm nearly always very happy to see people. People seem to just drop by - this morning our allotment friend came back for a coffee after we'd taken some bean sticks down there, and then my friend M who looks after Eva called round as she was passing, and we all sat at the kitchen table chatting.

OH has never been keen on walking, but since we've had Eva he has walked more than he's ever done - Eva has persuaded him, where I had failed! But it's nice to have his company.

[ZIZI]

We like the same things mostly although he does like to watch endless cooking, antique, house buying/renovation programmes which I don’t. I watch things on iplayer or other programmes instead. We don’t go out much because of his shifts and also most of our friends have moved away, everyone seemed to move at the same time I think because all of our children were leaving home at the same time. We both like cooking and travelling and have no problem on each other’s company saying not a word for ages BUT if something happens that is silly or funny we know not to look at each other otherwise we will both have a fit of the giggles. I go for lunch four or five times a year with friends and husband and I do date nights (or sometimes days) when we can, he occasionally goes for dinner with colleagues but I tend not to go to them as it is all work speak and I will have heard it all a hundred times before!

[Qwerty]

We have changed over the years, OH was the sociable one were in Round Table many social events and fundraising , I was a bit quieter than I am now as members of meet ups will know lol, but since he has suffered with depression a bit more nervous now it’s a long story , he would get on like a house on fire with Daisy’s OH wood turning it fascinates him, he misses his brother who died 12 yrs ago they were inseparable.
OH loves diy and has made a beautiful home for us over the years whilst I do know decorating just admire the finished product hence he loves B&Q he adores it 😒 I DO NOT
Food is our biggest problem he doesn’t eat any veg only peas, carrots and green beans , I like most veg but never eat it because he doesn’t
I have lots of friends from different areas he has very few, he does comment that he wishes he was able to make friends like I do, the bigger the do for me the better I will talk about anything and everything thing to anybody , he on the other hand likes a small circle of folk when socialising
It sounds like I don’t have anything in common but we both enjoy our home, eating out, family is very important to us especially g/c , cinema , music tastes all very similar, oh he’s t total that’s a real let down unfortunately I get tipsy and he looks at me as if I’m an alcoholic lol 😂We both hate sport a bonus there, I like light entertainment on tv he likes dramas, cow boy films 🤠 I have nap then, we both like documentaries we seem to jog along ok 😀

[Qwerty]

By the way Gem good thread

[Nanto2girls]

Some things we both like,some we don't.
Like most people here,we enjoy eating out,either with company or alone.
Hubby likes to watch a bit of sport on tv,i don't. if he is watching sport,i tend to be on the computer.
We both like walking anywhere. He's always loved doing DIY, i don't, although i will help him sometimes.
Like Mr ZIZI, he loves watching programmes about antiques,house restorations/house renovations/car programmes.
If i like a programme that he doesn't,i usually record it,and watch it when he does his own thing.
Obviously something is working, as we have been married for 49 years.

[Grauntie Mag]

We are so very different in this house. He loves sport, I don’t. He is competitive, I’m not. His favourite music is from musicals, mine isn’t. He will watch any old rubbish on TV, I would rather listen to the radio. We have always compromised and supported each other though. We both like to socialise and we both enjoy walking. We do make each other laugh.

[ZIZI]

Luckily neither of us are into sport. We did watch some of the Paralympics as that is something we have both worked with but no arguments about football and stuff in 5is house!

[WeeGranny]

OH used to be the outgoing one, happy to attend functions etc, but since he's stopped working he's become much more reclusive and not keen on going out. I made a social life for myself when he was working away and although that isn't as busy as it was I'd still prefer to do things outside of the house,preferably with him. We do seem to be living together, but apart, at the moment! Things will work themselves out I've no doubt.
Sorry I've gone off track, but we've always done different things all our married life, but now the differences seem to be showing more than ever.

[Plantaholic]

Makes the times you spend together more enjoyable WeeGranny.

[Mimi]

OH likes most sports, I don’t even understand cricket or rugby but I do watch football and I love tennis.
I am into my yoga , he dismisses it completely.
He likes old films whereas as I like films old or modern.
We have similar taste in music apart from reggae, I cannot abide it, he likes it.
When it comes to the home and garden we usually agree on any choices that we make.

[Daisy]

Qwerty - you know where we live - you can bring your OH down anytime! My OH loves people who are interested in what goes on in his mancave! And he has 2 lathes. OH's youngest brother is also a wood turner and when they come and stay the men spend most of the time talking about or doing wood turning. Of course that leaves my SIL and me free for a bit of retail therapy, or visiting gardens etc.

I think GM has touched on one of the most important things in a relationship - laughter. If you can make each other laugh problems can be sorted out. We have ongoing jokes - some of them started over 50 years ago!

WG - I think a lot of people (women as well as men) find it hard to re-adjust their identity when they retire. When I gave up teaching I spent about a year wondering who I was - it must be harder for men who perhaps have defined themselves by their career. It would be lovely if you could find something new to both of you that you can both enjoy.