After the bells stop chiming, the memories of bygone dating days fade as married life shoulders in with a whole pile of routine. What happens between couples after they marry? Does signing the marriage certificate translate to a death warrant for the fun times you shared as a dating couple? Not unless you let it.
......Sure, dating after marriage is no cakewalk. It requires effort, planning and creativity to keep things spicy. But really, not much has to change unless you let it. Think about it: This is not like a first date. You now have the marital advantage of being able to act like yourself, caring only what your partner thinks, knowing that you’re best pals forever. Best pals with your own house to strip to your skivvies and share boat drinks, munch on nachos together in a random room, watch movies or karaoke your hearts out in.
......If marriage is the engine, then dating is the fuel to keep it running. In between the tasks inherent in a marriage, my husband, Paul, and I still plan jaunts together, such as hiking, taking a walk or paddle boating at a local pond. Never being late, saying please, ditching predictability, opening doors, letting the other one pay for a meal and sealing the deal with a kiss guarantees our engine maintains peak performance.
......We also plan dates carefully, craftily and with long-term intent. Scuba diving, for example, provides us with an opportunity to not only plan stellar holidays but also heighten our intimacy, as our lives are dependent on each other under the sea. Same goes when we skydive at 12,000 feet together or test drive Ferraris.
......Paul and I are committed to one another, so we’ll rev up our engine and pour in the juice for a sweet ride until death do we part. And every day we thank each other for another great date, knowing that tomorrow another will follow.