In their recent June 2011 issue, Cosmopolitan posted findings from match.com's poll - the results said that relationship-minded men actually crave less personal space. So by this info-bit, that means Matt is a relationship-minded man.
What I mean by that is, since we've gotten serious Matt always invites me every time he goes to hang with his buddies - I never even ask. He spends quality time with me every day and unless he's playing a video game, his attention is on me. He's never mentioned needing space or wanting me to go somewhere not where we're currently living... He always asks if I want to go to the store with him or when he runs errands. Yay for me!
But what does that say about me since I don't particularly think I'm hard-up on personal, but I'm starting to think otherwise?
For instance, lately I've been spending a lot of time in the bathroom - not because of bodily functions (except the symptoms of a UTI) , but because I wanted a moment away from my sweetie. I'll just sit there on the pot, writing in a journal or reading a book, things that I actually do usually with Matt sitting next to me in the bed.
I call my friends when I want a break from my man and usually take the call to the other room or outside. I sometimes sit at work a lot longer after I've gotten off to have a breather to myself, or I hang out on the porch without him or in the other room doing something.
Why do I do this? It's not that Matt is annoying, clingy, or suffocating - those things his is NOT. It's not that I'm not allowed to hang out with other people or go places without him. He's not controlling and he's not obsessive.
In all actuality, probably, the reason we spend so much time together is that we genuinely enjoy each other immensely. We love everything about each other and accept one another, make each other laugh, goof off, have wonderful sex, and share good experiences that make memories. And the reason I've been making time for myself in little ways probably has to do with both my individual needs and my urgency of preserving the relationship and keeping us thriving.
When Matt and I first started dating, we only saw each other once or twice a week, if even that. We hardly talked on the phone (complicated reasons involving low-level manipulation through lying and me getting a new phone - covered in a later Topic: Truth and Deception), and texted usually once a day. I looked forward to every time my phone went off or he told me he was coming over. Meanwhile, I didn't waste my time waiting to hear from him. I went out with friends, went shopping and saw movies, sang karaoke on Saturdays, and spent time working on my writing on the computer. I had all the time to myself, after being in an abusive relationship with a guy who constantly blew up my phone and would yell at me for not answering on the first ring.
As it seems, Matt went through his own "me time" phase, long before we got seriously-serious. From the beginning, we both felt that this was "it" and we'd found our soul mates in each other. (Still feel this way, in fact.)
During the first month of December, Matt pulled some shit that normally deserves a harsh break up. This will be covered in more detail in Topic: Cruel December, but a light-skimming of the topic goes like this: Matt hung out with my brother more than me, so much so I became the third-wheel. I said something about it, and he clamoured about things like "I was having guy time" and "I didn't mean to ignore you, but I was busy." He also out-right ignored my pleas and went to a strip club (that he lied to me about going to it, and I found out officially in FEBRUARY), and then a Coyote Ugly, where he allegedly said, "It's nice to get away from Sarah (2)." We also barely talked, barely touched, and didn't kiss because he was "sick" and "didn't want to get me sick." (Once again, more in Topic: Cruel December.) He hardly returned my calls, didn't reply to my texts as promptly as normal, and gave excuses about why he didn't call back or wasn't going to come see me -- "I'm busy cleaning house" or "I don't know what's going on with my parents tomorrow, so I can't give an answer just yet."
Turns out, through recent developments (covered in later Topic: Truth and Deception), he was lying to me about being busy cleaning house/no gas/no car: "I was just at home playing video games." He said he didn't want to be around me because "I was feeling down on myself, and you were always so bright and positive that I didn't want to bring you down."
Matt almost lost me in December, things got better in January, took a turn for the worst during February (see Topic: Truth and Deception) but he made things right, and then things were better. I started spending the night at least once a week, with us seeing each other two other times besides that, and very soon the nights turned to weeks and the weeks turned to months. I haven't spent a night at home since.
So did Matt repent for the sins of December by constantly showing how much he wants to spend time with me?
Now I'm comitting the sins of May/June. Sarah's "me time." Nothing like cheating or purposefully causing drama, no no no no.
There was an anime convention I've been wanting to go to for a very long time. METROCON. It's held every year in downtown area of Tampa, and every time I've gone it was time away from my boyfriend at the time.
The first time, I didn't have much of a choice; I was in a long distance relationship with a Marine, and communication was already limited enough. I spent a good bit of the con on the phone with the guy, and I moped around a lot, missing him and wishing he was at the con with me.
The second time, my guy had orginally agreed that we were going to the con together -- until he bailed on me, and I was stranded with no way to go or even enough money to pay for it all since he'd convinced me I'd have enough money. (Part of me says he did that on purpose, the other part says he was just not the responsible type to actually plan shit in advance). My friend Jen bought me a last-minute $300 VIP ticket, and I had to go. :D I didn't want it to go to waste. Well, Jake didn't like that, and spent the whole con tying me down with his anger and hurtful words. We argued non-stop and he was determined to ruin my experience by blowing up my phone, leaving angry and hateful voice messages, and threatening me. That time, I was happy to be without him.
And now 2011 comes around. At first, Matt was gonna go, and then he got himself and new job and didn't want to risk getting canned by asking time off. I was excited by the prospect of our first vaction together! But when he said finally that he couldn't go, I was saddened by this development.
But then I started getting used to the idea of going to the con with just my best friend Brittany and having time away from him. I was looking forward to the weekened without him and even anticipating how horny I'd be after I got back. (I'm always horny after long trips.) I was imagining what the con was gonna be like, with me video-documenting the adventure on my iPod and taking pictures with my cellphone. I'd spend the weekend doing my own thing, but by still showing Matt that I'm thinking of him through romantic/sexy text messages, picture mails, and video clips to be later reviewed, because that's one thing you can't really do if you spend all your time with your sweetie: you won't miss them or think about them if they're right there with you all the time.
But now, here's the new development: As of two days ago, Metrocon plans changed: Matt is going with.
There goes my "bestie road trip."
There goes our time apart, to miss each other, and then upon reunion show just how much we missed each other. ;(
There goes Sarah's "me time."
BUT - it would be our first vacation together, possibly bringing us even closer as we experience a world outside our little room and this shitty little town.
And as of an hour or so ago, plans changed again: Brittany and I were screwed out of our staying at my buddies' house. Now we're struggling to find a place to stay for that weekend, but shit has happened.
Matt says he's still going, but now he's doubtful whether he'll have the money or not.
So I'm happy and sad: happy that if we do go, he might not get to go... and sad that if we do go, he might not get to go.
And sad that the possiblity is, we just might now get to go at all. That nobody goes, period.
*sigh*
Rather conflicted about this, but I am taking the warning that I need time for myself. I need to talk to Matt about the Metrocon thing, and possibly stack myself on work hours so that I can be apart from him at least a little while. In fact, if I still had my computer with me at all times (right now I'm posting at my parents house, where my compy resides; I reside out of town), I'd probably need less time for myself since I could just put on headphones and mentally disappear for awhile.
So what's the lesson here, readers? Couples can benefit from time apart (3). Wanting time for yourself is not a sign of an unhealthy relationship or an unreasonable desire; it's the sign of a heathy individual who knows what he or she wants, and in a relationship it takes communication to let the other person know what he or she wants. Some people don't need all that much "me time" - other people do. Me, I'm somewhere in the middle. I enjoy being able to do what I want without getting interrupted by someone, but at the time, I enjoy the person interrupting me... most of the time.
I'll work out this Metrocon/"me time" thing. It's either gonna take me making the time for myself in the small ways like I have been, or asking for it nicely. Either someone goes to the con, or nobody goes.
(I love Matt dearly, and I wonder how he'd act when I'm not beside him for a weekend...)
And with that thought I wrap this up. Next Topic? Probably won't be until sometime next week, if even that. Don't expect timely updates from me. XD
Until next Topic, later days.
-S.
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NOTES:
1. Check out this link for more information: http://worldsstrongestlibrarian.com/5774/5-reasons-happy-couples-should-spend-time-apart-guest-post-by-tara-mohr/
2.) The source on this one is a little sketchy. My brother was severely drunk after the Coyote Ugly and Matt was the designated driver. A few days ago, I brought it up with Matt after reading the same article from Note 3 and pointing out what happened in Cruel December. I said the "it's nice to get away from Sarah" version; Matt rebutted, "That's not what I said! I said it was nice to get away from stress." I'm not sure what call to make here. You decide.
3. This link for information: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/relationship-advice/new-love-truths?click=main_sr - I'm specifically putting this one in here because of the conversation I had with Matt where I brought up his behavior in December and how it related to this article. This article will be cited again in Topic: Truth and Deception.