My Lover's Personality Is A Little Strange Bato

Okay, so picture this: last week, my partner, who we'll affectionately call Bato, decided that our apartment needed… a moss wall. Not a little succulent arrangement, not a framed piece of preserved moss, but a full-blown, floor-to-ceiling moss installation. I came home to find him covered in dirt, surrounded by bags of peat moss and what looked suspiciously like forest floor debris. He just looked up, grinned, and said, "Surprise! Don't you think it brings the outdoors in?" I love him, I really do, but sometimes… sometimes I wonder where his brain goes on vacation. 😅

That got me thinking – Bato's personality, while undeniably charming, is also... unique. And I mean that in the most loving, slightly exasperated way possible. It's not that he's "weird," per se, but more like he operates on a different operating system than the rest of us. Does anyone else feel that way about their partner? Hit me up in the comments, because I need to know I'm not alone here!

The "Strange" Spectrum: It's All Relative, Right?

Before I dive into the specifics, let's establish some ground rules. What even *is* "strange," anyway? Isn't it just a label we slap on things that deviate from the norm? And who decides what the norm is? Your norm is probably different from mine, and definitely different from Bato's, which, let's be honest, is kind of the point of this whole thing.

What I consider "strange" might be your "endearing quirk." For example, Bato has this habit of talking to squirrels. Full-on conversations. About the price of acorns, apparently. My friends think it's hilarious. My mom thinks he needs therapy. I'm somewhere in the middle. (Though I did catch him trying to negotiate a trade – two almonds for a particularly plump acorn – the other day, and I gotta admit, I was a little concerned. Just a little!)

So, keep that in mind as I unpack the delightful eccentricities that make Bato… well, Bato. It's all coming from a place of deep affection (and a healthy dose of amusement).

Exhibit A: The Unwavering Enthusiasm

This is probably Bato's most defining characteristic. He gets *obsessed* with things. And when I say obsessed, I mean *obsessed*. It's like his brain has a one-track mind that leads directly to whatever his current fascination is. For a while, it was vintage typewriters. (We now own four. Four! I didn't even know you could own four typewriters without being a professional novelist…or a hipster.) Then it was collecting antique doorknobs (don't ask), and now it's apparently sustainable gardening techniques. Which, you know, is actually pretty cool. I just hope our apartment doesn't turn into a jungle anytime soon. Wish me luck! 😅

Pros: Infectious energy, always learning new things, makes life interesting.
Cons: Can be a bit overwhelming, difficult to keep up with, leads to random purchases that clutter the apartment.

Seriously though, the enthusiasm is genuinely inspiring. It's just sometimes…a lot. You know? Tell me you know!

Exhibit B: The Unexpected Honesty

Bato is brutally, sometimes hilariously, honest. It's not that he's mean-spirited; he just doesn't seem to have a filter. If he doesn't like your new haircut, he'll tell you. If he thinks your cooking tastes like burnt rubber (which, admittedly, it sometimes does), he'll let you know. It's…refreshing, in a way. But also potentially disastrous in social situations. I've learned to develop a sixth sense for when to intervene and subtly steer the conversation away from potentially offensive territory. It’s like being a diplomat, but for awkward dinner parties.

The upside is that you always know where you stand with him. There's no guessing, no passive-aggressive behavior, just raw, unfiltered truth. Which, honestly, is a rare and valuable thing these days.

Side note: This honesty extends to himself as well. He's incredibly self-aware and willing to admit when he's wrong. Which, surprisingly, is more often than you might think, given his unwavering confidence in his… unique… opinions.

Exhibit C: The Adoration of the Absurd

Bato has a deep and abiding love for the ridiculous. Puns, dad jokes, offbeat humor – he lives for it. He'll spend hours watching videos of cats playing the piano or reading articles about the world's largest ball of twine. (Yes, apparently that's a thing.) It's like his brain is constantly searching for the silliest, most nonsensical thing it can find.

And you know what? It's contagious. I used to roll my eyes at his goofy antics, but now I find myself laughing along with him. Life's too short to be serious all the time, right? Bato reminds me to embrace the absurdity and find joy in the little things, even if those little things are objectively ridiculous.

Examples of Bato's Absurdity:
Wearing mismatched socks on purpose.
Singing opera to our houseplants.
Creating elaborate backstories for inanimate objects (our toaster oven is apparently a retired detective from Miami).

I’m not even kidding about the toaster oven. And I’m starting to believe it’s true! 🤪

The Verdict: Embrace the Strange!

So, yeah, Bato is a little strange. Okay, maybe a lot strange. But that's what makes him so special. His quirks and eccentricities are part of what I love about him. He challenges me to step outside my comfort zone, to see the world from a different perspective, and to embrace the unexpected. It's not always easy (hello, moss wall!), but it's always interesting.

And let's be real, who wants a partner who's perfectly "normal," anyway? Where's the fun in that? A little bit of "strange" keeps things exciting, sparks creativity, and reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously.

Food for Thought: Maybe "strange" isn't a bad thing at all. Maybe it's just another word for "authentic," "unique," or "wonderfully, beautifully, undeniably *themselves*."

So, what’s your partner’s “strange”?

I’m genuinely curious! What are some of the quirks and eccentricities that make your partner, well, *your* partner? Share your stories in the comments! Let's celebrate the wonderfully weird people we love!

And if you happen to have any tips on how to convince Bato that we don't actually need a full-sized replica of Stonehenge in our living room, please send them my way. I'm starting to feel like I'm losing this battle. 😅 Wish me luck (again!) and thanks for reading! ❤️