The Adnostic

The Morning News had a link to an article that cited a disturbing trend in the sleeping habits of American couples. Happily married people sleeping in separate bedrooms. What is this? A 50's sitcom? Even Lucy and Ricky slept in the same bedroom.

This just doesn't sit well with me. Mostly because the last two guys I dated had issues with me sleeping over which really ticked me off. I enjoy the feeling of falling asleep in the arms of a man I care about. When I start dating a guy I look forward to that first amazingly passionate night when neither of us get any sleep and that is a good thing. I can't think of a better reason to be dog-tired at work. After all, sleeping over was the reason why caffeine was invented (Celestial Seasonings Devonshire English Breakfast has a steroid-like kick and is offered for free in most office kitchens).

I understand some of the reasons cited. Snoring (earplugs), tossing and turning (wrist and ankle cuffs are not just for bondage fantasies anymore), being able to occupy the entire bed (overrated, trust me), and yes, I can see how sharing the mattress with THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE may at some point become tedious and more annoying than emotionally satisfying, but I can't help but think that these couples are missing out on a lot of the intimacy experienced by a bed-sharing couple.

Who holds them when they come home extra late after finishing that major presentation at the office, which is due first thing the next morning? If they have a fight, isn't it just a little too easy for them to retire to their separate bedrooms and not work it out? If one of the partners is a bit miffed or ill at ease and not sure how to express it, how can the other one tell if that person isn't being a little extra restless while laying right next to them? Do urges felt in the middle of the night simply go unsatisfied?

I may have never been married, or been in many long-term relationships, but separate bedrooms stinks of separate lives to me. Personally, I hope I end up in a bed-sharing relationship, tossing and turning be damned.