Malcolm and I don’t usually celebrate Valentine’s Day. For us, it’s more of an excuse to eat chocolate (though I don’t need an excuse, and neither do you!) and go for a mid-week date. Every now and then we’ll give each other cards, but it hardly ever gets more serious than that. We tend to opt for experiences together, rather than tangible presents. Here are a few ideas if you’d like to avoid overspending while staying Covid safe on Valentine’s:

1. Stargazing date – I wrote about this previously here. I bought Malcolm a telescope for our last anniversary, and we’ve gone several times to the top of mountains to use it on clear nights. With or without a telescope, or a mountain for that matter, you and your significant other(s) can drive a ways out of town. Bring some drinks, maybe some dinner, put on some music, and voila, nerdy romance.
   
2. Board games date – Malcolm and I play board games a LOT, especially chess. To switch it up, we played Twister last weekend on our stay-at-home date. It was hilarious and simple fun. We even taught our cat how to be the spinner, though she likes to knock the spinner both ways while it’s moving. It was a great way to just be silly and laugh. It might seem weird to plan a date at home when you may or may not be around your significant other(s) all the time, thanks to Covid; however, the intentionality behind it is what counts. Intentionally blocking out time moves your relationship and intimacy to the top of your priorities. And who doesn’t want to be a priority to their partner?
   
3. Scavenger hunt – The idea is to plan an activity, be it cooking, watching a movie, or even going out, — whatever your thing is — and to communicate this to your partner by leaving a series of post its, messages, or clues. You could write instructions on how to find you, how to dress/get ready for the activity you planned, where to meet you, or even clues about where to look next if you fancy. I did this for Malcolm a few years ago. I set up a series of stations with instructions at each station. One station had several ingredients for drinks with a note to make himself a drink or two, depending on how he was feeling (now that I think about it, it would have been easier with beer. Hah! Part of the romance, though, is the preparation and the thought your partner can see you put into it.) The next station gave him a choice of three different accessories for the activity. Back to the drink station. And finally clues to get to me where I had our activity waiting with his favorite food and drinks. I got the biggest thrill planning it, and he enjoyed the surprise.
   
4. Cook a meal together – crack open some beverages and cook your favorite meal together. Don’t forget dessert too!
   
5. Dance – do you and your partner love to dance? Or does one of you love it and the other tolerates it? Yeah, that’s how my relationship is too. Hah! To scratch my dancing itch, we turned off all the lights, save a few colorful lights like our neon cactus, we (read me) put on dancing clothes, made a fun playlist together, and danced for hours.

How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day?

xMaegan