Roles, Chores and Being Family

We, as gay men, are fortunate not to be restricted to certain roles based on gender.  The other day Leon and I fixed our clothes dryer, yesterday he and the boys were out shoveling a customer's roof, while I made  eggplant and veal parmigiana; today Leon "Betsy Ross" got out his grandma's sewing machine and sewed two old couch cushions together to make a new bed for our dog Benni while I worked on a grant.  He also  gave Benni a bath.  After lunch we're both out clearing the driveway and truck of new snow.

Benni's new bed.

Depending on the occasion, we cook, sew, run a chainsaw or a rototiller, make arts and crafts projects, do auto detailing, build a stone wall,  fix things, garden, iron, do yard work, and home maintenance.  We work well together and often pick up a chore where the other left off.  I'm not crazy about ladders, washing cars or connecting electronics;  Leon doesn't like to write or cook (although he cooks pretty well) or fuss over the garden.  I clean the toilet, he cleans the tub.  But not necessarily.

Leon snow-blowing (there aren't too many pics of me snow-blowing because when I'm snow-blowing Leon isn't taking pictures).

I am purported to be the "worrier" but Leon will not sleep knowing there is a foot and a half of snow on the roof or planning how to park the camper when we get to that campground two days hence.  I figure the roof will take care of itself and the camper will get parked, but I worry about whether that plastic container can go in the recycle bin or whether the fish I just bought was wild caught and sustainable. 

A new place to hike with Benni

After twenty-two years we still enjoy each other's company and doing things together - whether finding a new place to hike with the dog or going on a trip to England. (Yeah, we're going to England).  Our roles in our little family are pretty interchangeable, fluid, and also complementary.  It makes for a good domestic partnership, and a good marriage (though we're not legal yet).  I'm content and glad to be gay.

The butch truck up to here in snow

Ice Box

Driveway, first pass with the blower