My bike time, and the mornings (since I get up earlier than The Boy), are my only ME time. And I'm an introvert (INFP on the Meyers-Briggs system) so I NEED that time!

The Boy is an extrovert and does not ride, which leads to such exchanges as this, from Sunday:

Me: *walks in door, hangs up helmet, stands there looking mildly puzzled at inability to remove bike gloves; I'd just done a 72 km loop with the cycle club, first long ride this year and first group event ever. Physically and mentally I was pooped!*

The Boy: Yay! You're home! How was the ride? Did you have fun? Let's go to the grocery store, we need stuff for dinner.

Me: *blinking* Um, I kind of need a shower. I have sweat in my hair, bugs in my teeth, and my entire body is covered in sunscreen and road dust.

The Boy: So? It's just the Co-op, nobody will care.

Me: I just really need to shower and sit down.

The Boy: Oh, come on, I don't want to go by myself.

Me: No. I just rode FORTY-FIVE MILES and I want a shower. How about you go get hamburger buns and I will start slicing up toppings after I shower and then we will be all set to eat sooner.

The Boy: *sensing danger at last* OK...

....yeah.