Kayaking Under A Blood Moon
“I took my girlfriend kayaking during a super harvest blood moon. I brought an Indian food buffet which is not the easiest thing to eat on kayaks.
We connected our kayaks and put a piece of plywood across our laps. This kind of held us together as we drifted around the lake at sunset while eating the spread of wonderful Indian food.”
The Best Way To Spend Any Road Trip
“When on long car rides together, listen to podcasts that teach you something or which discuss some sort of controversial topic.
My wife and I will listen to things like Radio Lab, 99% Invisible, or This American Life while on long car rides. Quite often, we will pause the show to discuss our thoughts on the show’s topic.
This has led to many great hours of interesting, intelligent conversation between us where we have gotten to learn a lot about each other and the point of view we have on many things in the world. It’s a great bonding tool, plus you learn some nifty information along the way.”
Watch the Stars
“If you have a truck or know someone who does, blow up an air mattress in the back of it. Load it up with pillows and blankets, grab something nice but easy to eat and drive somewhere random and rural. Lay out under the stars and watch a movie together.
Bonus points, if you live somewhere cold, make it so you’re defying nature by being warm.”
Learn Something New Together
“Learn something new together. Whether it be a foreign language, how to make sushi, knit, paint, or anything else.
Studies show that the feel-good chemical, oxytocin, is released when you are learning something new and when you learn with someone, you subconsciously associate feeling good with that person.
So, not only do you learn something new (which is a confidence builder in itself), you bond with your significant other on a deeper level.”
A New Spin On “Fire Training”
“Bond through fire training. It’s where you flop down over them (ideally while they are laying in bed) pretending to have passed out due to smoke inhalation, and it’s their responsibility to both escape from under you and move you to safety.
Ideally, it’s performed by yelling ‘fire training!’ and then flopping without any additional warning. Don’t explain it ahead of time. Fires don’t explain themselves.
It’s initially met with much resistance, so a key is to remain motionless and mute. Really commit to the role of someone who has passed out. Get them to realize that the only way they can get up is if they move you themselves, and then they find the motivation.”
Tabletop Games Aren’t Just For Kids
“Play tabletop games. The amount of couples who both enjoy ‘games’ but never try any tabletop games outside of the usual realm of childhood games that are all terrible astounds me.
Even something super quick/simple like Love Letter can be amazing when it comes to drumming up a conversation.
It seems like a lot of people think your choices are either Monopoly or Dungeons and Dragons; I can’t recommend looking into other options enough! Not only are tabletop games better to talk over than TV/video games, but it makes your house super fun to visit too. Our collection is big enough at this point that we can find a game even non-gamers enjoy easily.
Don’t miss out on the cooperative games that you can win/lose together with either, I suggest Pandemic (though it is a tad on the heavier side, especially compared to things like Love Letter). Carcassonne is easily one of our favorites, the base game is very easy to understand, but there are expansions that make the game deeper/keep it interesting. Awesome game for half-playing and half-talking as well.”
Worm Racing
“Something all couples have to try is worm racing. You both lie face down on the ground by the front door, with your hands in your pockets, and race to the other end of the house, on your bellies, like worms.
I’m 41, my wife turns 40 next month, and we have a worm race probably once a month when the kids are elsewhere.”
Walmart Battles
“Go to Walmart with your significant other and set a timer for 10 minutes.
You must each spend $10 on random small gifts for the other person. Once the time is up, meet back at checkout. Whoever got the funniest items wins.”
Blast From The Past
“If you’re both in contact with your families/have nice childhood memories, I suggest watching home videos of each other together.
We once watched my significant other’s middle school production of a musical, and I’ve never loved her more. She told me everything she remembered about it and how much fun she had. It was so sweet.
It’s also a great way to share memories of family members important to you who have passed away, but who you wish you could introduce to your boyfriend/girlfriend.”
A Different Take
“You don’t always have to do something with your significant other. Occasionally, you can try doing something completely selfless for them. It is a wonderful way to tie your bond a little stronger.
For my husband, who loved tub baths but would rarely give himself the time to take one, I would set it up for him so that he had to use it. I would get our portable Bose speaker and put on his favorite jazz, then I would start the water running very hot as I knew it would be just right by the time he got in. We didn’t have the fanciest bathroom, but with some candles (yes I lit candles for my husband) and some fluffy towels stacked close to the tub, it lent the little room some romantic ambiance. I would turn the lights off, have only candlelight, his jazz playing at a comfortable volume, and then I would make him a drink he liked and would have it placed on the edge of the tub. In the water, I would put whatever I knew he liked. Usually, it was scented bath soaps. But when he had been laboring hard at work (which was often in his profession), I would put in Epsom salts and a scented oil –something masculine like rosemary, mint, or tea tree.
And then, after telling him it was ready, I would leave him alone in the tub. I would not bother him for at least 45 minutes to an hour, and then only to ask if he wanted another drink, water warmed, candles relit, the music changed.
He gave me so many comforts and so many securities and I always tried to give equally. He was an amazing husband; I always found joy in giving to him those things that I knew he loved but would not do for himself.”
Find Out What Matters In Life, Discard The Rest
“Konmari your stuff together.
Pile all your clothes onto the floor, pick up each item and keep it if it brings you joy. Discard the rest. Repeat category by category for the rest of your belongings.
If you find an item that doesn’t bring you joy, but you have a hard time getting rid of it, tell that story to your significant other. Say ‘I remember when I bought this shirt. I loved this band so much but it’s too short on me so I never wear it.’ Saying that out loud to someone who wants to listen is sometimes enough to make it easy to let it go, and donate it.
It’s a really good exercise to get rid of all the stuff you don’t need, to make room in your life for someone you love.”
Conquer A Fear Together
“Conquer a fear together.
For my husband and I, we both had a deathly fear of white water rafting.
It brings you closer together, teaches valuable communication skills, and is a memory you can cherish well into your old age.”
The Lava Boat
“Play ‘lava boat.’ While you’re laying in bed together start acting like the bed is getting hot, ‘Do you feel that?’ ‘Oh my god, that’s crazy,’ ‘You can’t feel that?’
And then you climb on top of her to get off/out of the lava and use her as a lava boat. Lay on top of her while you’re both prone and try to get completely off the bed. Arms, legs, everything because the bed is lava.
Once you’re fully off of the lava, tell her that the bed is lava and she’s your lava boat. If she pushes you off act like you’re burning until she lets you back on.
Boys can be lava boats too, anybody can. All you need is pretend lava. Lava Boat, tell your friends.”
Go On A Road Trip Together
“Go on a road trip. Road trips are so much fun with the right person, and I think it’s also an important relationship milestone. How do you cope when you miss the exit, or you feel sick because he insisted on stopping somewhere that had all you can eat chicken and waffles.”