Two person games

[heliumskylark]

My husband and I have fallen into a bit of a rut recently of spending our evenings just watching TV, doing chores / studying, and going to bed. Do any of you guys have suggestions of two person games that you enjoy playing with your spouse? Either 'adult' type games or normal card / board game ideas are welcome! Or if you have any other simple evening activities (not a euphemism - I can come up with that idea on my own ) that you enjoy, I'm open to non-game suggestions too! Thanks in advance

 

[mkgal1]

Do you have a park nearby (or a large backyard)? We got a portable badminton/volleyball set a while ago that we can take to the park. It's nice to get outdoors. If the weather isn't so great...there are some fun Wii games.

 

[Murby]

Chess is one of the best two person games ever invented. Pure intellectual horsepower. Games can take minutes or hours.. its cheap, can be played anywhere, and doesn't wear out.

As learning to play music doesn't provided you with any educational benefits, it does make you more intelligent. Chess has the same type of neurological benefits.

Once you learn to play, you will enjoy the game for life.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

My wife and I lwatch videos from conferences like The Gospel Coalition (especially Tim Keller) or R.C. Sproul's Ligonier conferences.

Don't just kill time - renew your mind.

 

[heliumskylark]

Thanks so much, guys! Those are much better suggestions than anything I had in mind / thought I was looking for!
We do have a park behind our house, and it even has some of those outdoor ping pong tables - I don't know why I didn't think of that.
My husband started teaching me chess on our honeymoon (5 years ago!), then when we got into the routines of daily life together we let it fall by the wayside. But we enjoyed it at the time, and enjoyed that it could be played anywhere, as you said. I'll definitely dig our old set out.
And it never occurred to me to watch conference videos but we really like some of Tim Keller's books, so I'd love to hear him speak "in person". I'll look R.C Sproul up - I'm not familiar with him.
Thanks again

 

[ValleyGal]

Only play competitive games if you are a good match and one of you isn't winning all the time. I used to like games, but my son and husband are very closely matched in game-playing and the only time I ever win is by fluke. After a couple of years of losing, I really don't want to play anymore. It gets discouraging.

But there are things you can do together without competition. If you have no physical limitations, start walking together in the evenings, or go swimming at the local pool, or you can go bike-riding. In winter maybe you could volunteer a couple of times a week together or join a club or care group, go to the gym, build a birdhouse or something. If you have kids, you could work together on building each of them a hope chest they can fill over the years, or if they are older, you can work together on writing a formal blessing for their high school graduation or wedding day.

 

[ImaginaryDay]

Scrabble is good, but be sure to have a Scrabble dictionary on hand
I'm learning to play 'Cribbage', but I'm not sure my wife will play me (see post above ). I am absolutely the worst Chess player that ever walked the planet, so that's out. Yahtzee is also an old classic. I prefer the classics to the newer games; also, anything where the odds are a little more even. I do tend to get competitive, so when my MIL visits, then I play Monopoly with her and my Step-Son.

 

[tomartomau]

I agree board games are great, also a hike (if it is safe where you live) is a great idea. Fishing, joining a local community group might provide a part of a solution. I have been married for 18 years and whilst my wife and I are quite different in our likes, we do find some activities that both of us can enjoy.

What I really miss is a study group of say married couples that get together say fortnightly and talk about how they are tracking in their relationship with God and spouse.