“Low-stakes adversity is a kind of adventure playground for relationship dynamics”

It all started in June. We were staying at the central Halifax home of my absent old friends Yvonne and Bob. They’d left the key for us, and we were able to let ourselves in, with a little bit of lock-jiggling. The next morning we headed out into the neighbourhood to find breakfast, and, being extra protective of my friends’ house, I locked not only the deadbolt, but also the doorknob, which had seemed to unlock with the same key.We enjoyed a tasty French breakfast and walked back to collect our things for our planned day of adventures.Only to find that…The key only opened the deadbolt.Panic.I texted Bob and Yvonne, three time zones west.“Oh, we’ve never locked that lock, and we’ve never even had the key for it.”While I tried all the other doors, looked to see if any windows were open (no, no), Lisa wandered over to chat to their neighbour, N.N.—what are the odds!?— “did some lock picking awhile back,” and he was willing to help.While N. went to collect his lockpicking tools, I…