Nothing has been funny or even slightly droll since this pandemic took over—nothing, until I went for a walk with my spouse. 

I have had a ritual of walking with friends, one or two times per week for the past decade, or more. Same path, same people. Same great gab sessions.

 Now, I walk with my husband who is also my business partner—and the only person I am hanging out with while practicing strict social distancing. 

I’ve been told by him that I have the nasty habit of wanting to talk about work issues at 11:30 PM, just as he wants to go to sleep. I am so annoying according to him. 

But now we can walk and talk business during waking hours! 

Oh, my. NOT a good idea. After I asked a question related to some tax filing, he became unhappy. His voice grew so loud that an elderly couple (even older than us!) several yards ahead, turned around to see who was disturbing their peaceful stroll. Embarrassing. Good thing I was totally incognito—wearing a mask, sunglasses, and baseball hat.

Because I am perfectly capable of a pivot and could not risk alienating the only other human in my life. I hatched a plan to appease my exercise partner. 

We both had new airpods. The next time we walked, he listened to music and I tuned into a podcast with Congressman Katie Porter explaining the new tax bill. At the end of the walk, he turned to me—after we had not exchanged one word for several miles—and remarked how much he had enjoyed the walk. Together, but separate.