Jeremy and I used to share an office in our home. When we were both employed by others, our office was used for household tasks. We paid the bills, took care of banking, handled mail, and occasionally played a game of computer solitaire. When we started running our own business out of our home…let’s just say that things changed – and I’m being nice here.
Slowly, little by little, I began to notice that everything that was “cute” in our mutual office was being systematically REMOVED! My cute figurines found new homes in the guest bedroom. My stuff that was left sitting on the desk was now nowhere to be found – it had been tucked away into some drawer. THE OFFICE had now become HIS OFFICE with a distinctive architectural flair. (Read: Cherry, chrome, black…) Until one day I found myself perched on a barstool at the end of our counter, surrounded by the flotsam of my life, and it occurred to me:
I Need a Home for my CRAP!!!
A place; a corner; a drawer…Something! When you spend so much time together, and perhaps even when you don’t, everyone needs a little personal space, don’t you think? We were lucky enough to have an extra bedroom that was being used for little more than storage, and with some rearranging of furniture and a gallon of a lovely squash colored paint – I now have my happy place. It holds the things that I love and that are important to me. It reflects who I am. It’s a place where I can work, create or hide…and it’s MINE – All Mine! So what is your space? Is it a room, a corner, a nook? Perhaps you have a special desk or piece of furniture. How have you created that one place that is uniquely your own? I can’t wait to hear how others have addressed this problem of too much togetherness!
Lynn
An Encore Voyage 
Great post and a definite issue of Venetian/Martian issues between the cohabiting sexes. In retirement rental #1 for us we had only a one-bedroom. Because my wife is the primary wage-earner now, she got dibs on our bedroom as her home office. But now luckily in retirement rental #2 we have a guest bedroom where I get to hang out. Why? Because it’s right near the laundry area, which is not only noisy but it requires that SOMEONE (i.e. guess who?) is responsible for all things that come out of the dryer before they wrinkle. And so it goes.
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Hahahahaha! Oooh I feel it, Mr. Martian. Just be careful that you don’t end up feeling like the “charwoman…er..man!” I had a real identity crisis when I found myself in a similar situation! Check out my What Am I Now post!
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I LOVE that color!
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Thanks! Happiness in a can!
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Good for you for getting your own space, painted in a special color! We are lucky that my husband and I each have our own office (mine is painted a happy shade of yellow). Although we try to keep our public rooms neat and tidy (“try” being the operative word), our offices are our own to mess up as we want. I’m lucky if I can see the top of my desk but I have no one to blame but myself. I love it!
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I live with an architect! He if fussier than me, and usually picks up after me in our “public spaces!” 🙂
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Wow, this made me re-think my vision for our next “resized” home. I don’t have my own space anywhere in this house. My husband has taken over “the office” so much that I can barely reach the bookshelves. The dining room table has turned into office number 2. My stuff is all over the place, because I don’t have anywhere to gather it together. It took me 2 days to find a box of crafting things I knew I had not thrown away. Yes, we have a huge house – it’s 3 stories and a basement – 10 rooms. And not one of those rooms is all mine. Definitely something to think on as we look at houses!
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My life became so much nicer when I found a place for all my flotsam. The picture doesn’t show it well, but I can switch from and actual office (with writing, laptop, etc.) to sewing and crafting, just by moving the laptop and setting up a table top ironing board. Now, the only clash we have is when we both want to play music too loud!
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I live alone so my space is … everywhere… Eventually, I want to get married and share my life with someone but I agree, it’s important to have your own space. I grew up witnessing my parents fussing when one moved the other’s Very Important Papers. They dealt with it and they’re still happily married but separate corners, I think is a must.
http://runwright.net
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OMG. Too funny!! When I retired that is the first thing I said I had to have…my own space. https://imoutofthefryingpan.wordpress.com/2015/04/18/the-puzzle/
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Thank yyou for sharing
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