In the first episode we are introduced to Eddie and Joy Stamm, who have been married for 8000+ days while their new next door neighbors Steph and Jeff Woodcock are young newlyweds. The young couple ends up having an argument over a pool table which ends up migrating next door.
Joy dreads dealing with Eddie about replacing the patio furniture until Steph tells her about a "special" type of deal she makes with Jeff to get the furniture she wants. In both households, a war over distressed patina finishes becomes a power struggle about who wears the pants - and who buys the furniture.
When the Woodcocks and the Starks go out for a thank-you dinner, Joy yearns for more romance from Eddie and asks him why she never received the engagement ring she was promised. With a little help from Jeff, Eddie gives Joy a ring, which she reluctantly accepts - but grows to love in her own special way.
Jeff is thrilled when his mother comes for a visit, but tension builds between him and Steph when he chooses his mother over her. Jeff goes to his neighbors for help, but ends up more conflicted than ever. Between Joy insisting he send his mom home and Eddie instructing him to secretly make his mom No. 1, Jeff must learn the delicate art of balancing the women in his life.
Steph and Jeff convince Eddie and Joy to join them for a getaway in the mountains, but when Steph tells Jeff she had an erotic dream about Eddie, their vacation is anything but relaxing for the Woodcocks.
After an injury Eddie is sure that he's going to die. With that fear Eddie and Joy rekindle the romance. Eddie decides to take advantage of the situation when he finds out he's fine, by not telling Joy the truth.
When Joy attempts to persuade Eddie that unplugging the toaster saves electricity, Eddie is convinced that his wife is mistaken. Stubbornly, they bicker until Eddie decides to take it to the next level and goes out of his way to prove Joy wrong in a series of failed attempts. It doesn't take long before Eddie and Joy come to realize their childish behavior is inappropriate when they ruin Steph's surprise party.
Eddie and Joys daughter, Allison, comes home for the holidays to celebrate New Years with her parents. When she gets some bad news from her boyfriend, Allison turns to her mother for help, leaving a snubbed Eddie perplexed. At the Woodcocks New Year's Eve party, Eddie lightens up his mood to impress his daughter, but as the clock strikes midnight and a new year begins, Allison realizes she likes her "big, dark, angry, wonderful dad" just the way he is.
While attending Vicki and Stan's 25th anniversary party, Joy can't help feeling jealous at the attention Stan pays to his wife. Eddie gets advice from Stan about his role in the marriage. Jeff is embarrassed by Steph's dancing.
Jeff is heartbroken and angry when Steph reveals that she won't be his Hockey Girl any longer. Eddie later muses that it's normal for new couples to lie and that they will eventually grow apart because of it, but Joy insists that she and Eddie are actually becoming more similar as they grow old together. As Jeff tries to accept that his wife is not the woman he thought she was, Eddie tries to prove to Joy that he is his own man.
Joy turns to a friend, Nicole for help when she and Eddie are fighting. When Eddie confronts Joy about Nicole, they get into a heated argument and seek support from their respective fight friends. Joy teaming up with Nicole, and Eddie with Nicole's husband Cofeld, in order to prove their points.
When Joy gives Eddie permission to have a female friend, the pair bond over their history. Meanwhile, Jeff tries to be cool and uses Steph to get in with the cool high school kids. Later, when Eddie and his friend get too close, Joy takes on some history of her own.
When the guys discover that Jeff never had a bachelor party, they have a boys night out at a local club. But when Nicole tags along with Cofeld, the guys night doesn't turn out as they planned. Meanwhile, Joy is sick at home and Steph comes over with a special recipe to help them both feel better.
When Joy accuses Eddie of being a pack rat, he and Jeff go through piles of ancient items from Eddie's past. The duo comes upon an old roll of film, which Jeff agrees to get developed. When Eddie sees the photos of himself and Joy having a great time in Italy, he is reminded of how the vacation ended and a moment he and Joy never discuss. In order to make things right, Eddie does all he can to relieve their trip to Italy right there in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
When Eddie and Joy visit Allison for parents weekend, they share a dorm room with a partying single father. When Allison lets them know her new major and next semesters plans, Eddie and Joy try their best to convince her to do otherwise but realize that their own mistakes led them to where they are today. Meanwhile, Jeff hires someone to help Steph tile the bathroom, which brings out the worst in her.
When the Woodcocks strike up a close friendship with the Cofelds, the Starks feel left out. Much to their surprise, they find they really miss their time with Jeff and Steph. Eddie and Joy set out to win the Woodcocks friendship back.
Steph gives Eddie and Joy a cappuccino maker that was a wedding gift from Jeffs mom. Joy loves the gift, but Eddie soon begins to resent Joy for not learning how to work the machine herself. When Eddie refuses to make Joy her nightly cappuccino, she makes a list of all the things she does around the house and comes to the conclusion that Eddie doesn't do enough.
When Joy and Allison (guest star Krysten Ritter) meet for Spring Break in Florida, Eddie is thrilled to have the house to himself where he can eat, sleep, wear whatever he wants and hang out with Cofeld (guest star Anthony Anderson). But when the week doesnt go exactly as planned, Eddie realizes how much he misses Joy. Meanwhile, Joy and Allison arent missing Eddie too much as they work-it on the beach.
When one of Eddies single idols comes for a visit, Eddie is in awe, while Joy is unimpressed by Webbys (guest star Ted McGinley) lifestyle of wild adventures and exotic travels. To Joy, Webby is running away from the one thing that can make him truly happy: a committed relationship. Ignoring Eddies warnings, Joy sets Webby up with Denise (guest star Tricia Fisher), who tames Webbys ways. When Webby is ready to settle down, Denise lets Joy know that shes not interested. Meanwhile, Jeff is miserable at the sight of his crying wife in an incredibly ugly shirt. Later, summer vacation has begun and Allison (guest-star Krysten Ritter) surprises her parents when she brings Doug (guest-star Tim Sharp) home. When Allison and Doug spend their days enjoying the summer, Steph convinces Eddie to join them. Meanwhile, Jeff and Joy feel left out and annoyed by their partners happiness but finally get convinced to join in.
Summer vacation has begun and Allison surprises her parents when she brings Doug (guest-star Timm Sharp) home. When Allison and Doug spend their days enjoying the summer, Steph gets Eddie to join them. Jeff and Joy feel left out and annoyed by their partners happiness but finally are persuaded to join in.