Parking Spots in the Kitchen

Charley and I were talking about a mutual friend who has been living with a woman for over a year. They are not romantically involved, but I said that they were basically like a couple in their 5th or sixth year of marriage- familiar, comfortable and predictable. Charley disagreed and pointed out that they get annoyed with each other all the time.

And how is that not like a married couple?

The rest of conversation went as follows:

ME: "So you're not annoyed when I put salt on my yogurt and my bagel?" I asked him.

C: "I think it is just silly."

ME: "And your not annoyed when I sweep all the dirt into a little corner in the kitchen and let it sit there for two days before throwing it away?" I asked.

C: "No. that's your parking spot for it all."

Me: "And you don't mind that I have to sleep with a fan on?"

C: "I don't even here it anymore."

ME: "And it doesn't bug you that I put way too many clothes in the washing machine when I do the wash?"

C: "You do that??"

ME: "Yes."

He did say that I needed to work on turning the lights off when I was not using them. I think I've been grossly misreading his reactions to my behavior.