Adulting

Apparently I’ve been doing a lot of “adult” things this year…what some of my fellow Gen Xers verb into the word “adulting.” I hadn’t considered it before, I suppose I’ve avoided a lot of these activities because they didn’t interest me. Read along, and see if this rings true with you.

I began the year with hernia surgery–I don’t recommend that as a hobby. Not fun. However, the pain from said hernia wasn’t fun, either. So, anyhow: first time “under the knife,” under general anesthesia, etc. Joy.

Also in late January, my Disney walking buddy and I decided to get engaged. Both on the geeky side, this was the first time for both of us. It wasn’t a big, public, get-down-on-one-knee affair (Robin’s thought: “If you did that, I’d have to help you up!”). Instead, it was just a mutual decision arrived at through our usual method: conversation.

We started doing things like shopping for rings, shopping for a shared home that would fit my stuff, her stuff, me, Robin, and her dogs, Maxwell and Wishbone (a.k.a. Max and Wishy). Rings were easy. The wedding was also pretty simple, as neither of us wanted a huge, attention-getting event: just a justice of the peace, followed by dinner with close family afterward. That kept the hoopla to a minimum–we’re introverts, hoopla isn’t a thing for us, if we can help it–and the cost. Another box checked (or achievement unlocked, if you’re a gamer).

After a months-long search through an active and expensive housing market, we closed on a house a couple weeks after the wedding. Then began the moving processes–each of us from our separate home to the shared domicile. My condo was cleared out June 23, Robin’s will be emptied of stuff July 7. This past weekend was another big step, though: Robin moved into the shared house with the dogs. I’ve never had dogs in my home as a long-term choice, just never been a “pet person.” Now I’m going to have to learn.

As several friends have pointed out as I share my adventures on Flakebook, “You’ve been doing a lot of adulting this year.” I guess I hadn’t considered it from that angle. I work for a living, I support myself, I take vacations. All of those are “adult” things, to be sure. However, apparently one isn’t considered a serious adult until you start settling down with a spouse and a house. Those used to be considered the standard emblems of adulthood and active citizenship…along with starting a family. Well, that last part isn’t happening. Neither of us are interested in children, unless one counts the critters, and there are multiple ways to ensure that folks in our age group don’t start procreating.

Anyhow, while these changes in lifestyle have come on in rapid succession this year (probably thanks to my ongoing sobriety), they haven’t changed my self-image as much as the image others have had of me. I’ve thought of myself as an adult for years now. Others had a different opinion. I wasn’t really an adult because I remained single and in possession of a condo rather than a single-family home.

Well, guess what, world? I’ve been adulting for a long time now. Nice of you to finally catch up to my reality.