I'd been under the assumption that after the kids left home — our youngest started college this fall — my husband, Steve, and I would develop some sort of shared interest, a hobby or activity that we would do together.

My sister and her husband, who became empty nesters last year, bought a motorboat and spent this past summer cruising the lakes near their northern Illinois home. Other friends have enjoyed designing and building a water garden, or playing golf and tennis.

Six weeks into our new lifestyle, Steve and I are searching for that common denominator.

Recently, with a totally unscheduled weekend ahead, I asked Steve if he'd like to join me on a bicycle ride. I've been riding a bike ever since I was a kid, and oftentimes the two of us will ride one of the many trails throughout Western Pennsylvania. Maybe this will become our shared interest, I thought.

"The leaves are beginning to turn and it's supposed to be a beautiful fall weekend," I said. "We could ride the Allegheny River Trail and have lunch in Oil City. I'd like to make a day of it."

Steve hemmed and hawed, and I knew he had something else in mind.

"I was thinking of taking the Mini to a car show," he said. "Would you want to come too?"

"Where is it?" I asked carefully, not wanting to squelch his suggestion outright but also not wanting to spend much time in a car that calls for earplugs on long trips. (Several years ago, Steve bought a 1967 Austin Mini Cooper station wagon, and there is minimal insulation to protect you from its 34-horsepower engine, which sits only inches from your knees. That and a loud exhaust make for a really noisy ride, so whenever Steve takes it on long trips — that means any place outside of Butler County — he uses earplugs.)

"The Minster Oktoberfest," he answered hesitantly.

Minster, a small western Ohio town where Steve grew up, is 300 miles from here. With a maximum cruising speed of 60 mph — it redlines at 69 mph — it would mean driving back roads all the way. And the car's 10-inch wheels and rubber-cone suspension, sans air conditioning and radio, make it feel like you're riding an enclosed go-kart.

Steve knew I would never consider going to Minster in the Mini; he has trouble getting me to take it to church on Sunday.

Needless to say, we went our separate ways, him sweltering in his Mini along the back roads of Ohio and me rolling along a bike path, basking in the warm October sunshine and enjoying the beautiful fall foliage.

"Did you have a good weekend?" I asked upon his return Sunday evening. Numerous stops — noise fatigue and the need to stretch his six-foot frame ever hour or so — had turned what would normally be a six-hour trip into 10. Exhausted but beaming, he said: "I had a great time. I could do whatever I wanted. Stop whenever I wanted and eat whatever I wanted. I really enjoyed taking a trip by myself."

As you can see, we have a long way to go before finding that common denominator.

Linda K. Schmitmeyer is a freelance writer living in Middlesex Township. Her e-mail address is lks260@zoominternet.net.