Junior’s done with school for the summer, and is back on his regular shift at work, which is second shift. 1:30 to midnight. He says he likes it, but it’s strange for me. I’ve never been involved with anyone on a different shift from me, and I can see that it’s going to take some getting used to. I guess I’m lucky it’s not third shift; I’d never much see him at all if that were the case.

I may have got a little spoiled while he was in school. His hours were odd but the days he worked matched mine, mostly, so there were weeks when I got to have him for four out of seven days. Not bad. Now though, we’re down to two days a week and I’m going to have some Junior withdrawls. He goes back in on Sunday afternoons, so no more quiet Sunday evenings together after a busy weekend. No more Wednesday date night; he’s working, and there’s no shifting it to Thursday either, as that’s his night with his kids.

It’s going to get a little tight when hunting season comes around. He’ll have a nice long weekend off, but it won’t match mine. I’ll have to bust my butt the rest of the weeks to get every other Friday off, and I’m doing some serious negotiating to find myself backup for at least three weekends a month, instead of my regular two. Otherwise, we’d only see each other twice a month, ironically missing each other during our favorite joint activity. Fortunately, Seamus wants to go hunting too, so I can drag him up with me. I predict a lot of living up at camp in the fall.

May is going to be a busy month anyway. Junior’s taking some time off to go to a shoot in Reno, but unfortunately, I can’t go with him. I’m taking a week to go get trained in Sacramento for another water license. When I get back, he’ll still be gone, but I’ll have at least two, and possibly all four kids, and won’t be able to go hang with him even for the weekend.

It sounds like a lot of complaining, but it’s all worth it. I will put up with an awful lot of scheduling nonsense to get to be around this man. Sure, it would be easier to snatch an hour here and there if we were living together, but we’re getting there without rushing. The more time we get under our belts, the more solid I feel. This is where I belong, and the man that suits me better than any other could. I’d rather be juggling time with the man I love than still drifting around aimlessly.