Every year my step-father takes off for the great white north (Canada) for probably a total of 3 weeks, all broken out over 2 to 3 trips. He'll be gone so far north to areas that dont have cell phone service or even paved roads. He'll take a float plane into the lodge. He lives for this stuff.
When he is gone, my mother is basically a widow. The lures, fishing rods, reels, etc ... all that fishing stuff ... has taken her husband away. And she is absolutely fine with the temporary absence of my step-father. She does miss him and looks forward to his return, but at the same time, she enjoys her alone time. I used to fret of her being by herself so I would be over there all the time. I soon sensed she didnt mind being alone, in fact she looked forward to it.
I went over to their house on Sunday to take Mom to the Wilton Tent Sale for some baking goodies. I went into the basement to get something and I noticed the 'fishing' room was looking a bit vacant. Come to think of it the whole house felt a little vacant.