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The Thermostat War, And 6 More Silly Compromises

The A/C is just one site for love's little battles you may not see coming.

You've heard it from cohabitants time and again: living with someone means making major lifestyle compromises—relinquishing half the bed, the closet, the TV remote, etc. But what about the microscopic adjustments that catch a couple completely off-guard?

The Washington Post just posted this chuckle-worthy piece on the annual thermostat war waged between wives who appreciate the summery climate and husbands who believe in the power of the almighty air-conditioning. Read: 5 Things I Hate About My Marriage

"This is a real phenomenon," said Kathryn Sandberg, director of the Georgetown University Center for the Study of Sex Differences in Health, Aging and Disease. "We have lots of data showing that women generally are far more sensitive to feelings of cold."

Studies among other mammals reveal the same trend. Given a choice between two chambers on either side of the comfort range, males prefer the chillier area while females go for the room that is "too hot" (according to their mates). Furthermore, military research has shown women to be more susceptible to cold-related ailments such as frostbite and hypothermia. So the next time you and your significant other get embroiled in a passive-aggressive temperature adjustment war, just blame biology. Female Vs Male Brain: Is There A Difference?

All this hot and cold talk got us thinking: what are some other seemingly silly compromises (or lack thereof) most couples don't see coming when they decide to bunk beds? Here's our quick hit list: 

Bathroom counter space and outlets: Not everyone can enjoy a two sink bathroom with outlets galore for two electric toothbrushes, a shaver, hair dryer, curling iron and et al. It may be prudent to invest in extra storage space and outlet splitters. Read: Sharing a Bathroom? Cohabitation Tips

Shoes or socks in the house: Old habits are hard to break. If your significant other dwelled in a shoes-on household while you can't bear the thought of outside dirt getting trekked onto the carpet, perhaps an ultimate game of footsie will solve this dilemma once and for all.

Shower times: Singletons may take for granted the luxury of rushing into an unoccupied shower when running late to work. Not so easy to pull of when there are two people getting ready in the morning. Our suggestion—jump in anyway. Co-showers are sexy and save water. Read: World's Sexiest Hotel Bathrooms

Toilet paper usage: When you live together, you'll be on the toilet and suddenly realize there's no more toilet paper and the refills are outside the bathroom and down the hall twice as many times as before.

Sleeping habits: One phrase—chronic blanket hog. Solution—two blankets.

100% Can RelateCan you relate?

Discussion

Chantal Martell Married loving,nurturing,happy, content
Can Relate - Posted August 12, 2009

I am the same way about cd,dvd, and book organizing, I also hang my clothes in a certain way and after that I categorize it also by color, lol. My husband appreciates though (so far) He's a clean, neat person and I can sometimes be a little messy, since i have 2 kids i learned to let go with everything being perfect and find other ways to release my "inner OCD" tendencies. He thinks its kinda funny and entertaining in some way, lol

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Lyz Married Community Manager
Posted August 12, 2009

Sounds like you guys have a nice balance. You do your thing, he respects it. No one is trying to force a way of life on the other.

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Lyz Married Community Manager
Posted August 11, 2009

I think when people fight over these things they're not REALLY fighting over those things. Like the tubes of toothpaste? Well, just get TWO. I think these fights are about "culture" and who we are clashing with who they are.

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Bsg67 Married
Posted August 12, 2009

Semantically, I wouldn't call that "culture". I think I understand what you mean, but the term "culture" is perhaps to broad, I'd rather talk about habits, tastes and upbringing.

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Lyz Married Community Manager
Posted August 12, 2009

culture can be narrow or broad depending on how you define it, but its the behaviors and beliefs you were brought up with and its not unprecedented to call it "culture." which is why I put it in quotation marks.

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BookMama Married Happily Married
Posted August 3, 2009

We have fought over how to load the dishwasher. He still loads it wrong. Our "compromise" is that whoever is loading the dishwasher does it their way.

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Tom Single
Can Relate - Posted August 3, 2009

Great list, Julie. The "saving water" excuse is a good one. Anyone out there get a little frustrated because someone hangs the toilet paper rolls the wrong way? How about facing hanging clothes in the wrong direction?

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Qverb Taken Rugburns, sarcasm, giggling, beautiful
Can Relate - Posted August 3, 2009

I actually am a little OCD about those 2 exact things. Along with that, I'm a chronic CD, DVD, and Book organizer, by genre and then alpha by author. I tend to pick women that are more "feeling" in their organizational skills, or by color, or something else that I just can't understand right off the bat.

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