my wife doesnt like my love for all things gadgety/techy....need advise.

[tommy]

Real life advice seems to be exactly what he needs from me. How is a grown man gonna say his wife will not let him do what he wants, come on dude.

[hulkster]

because this grown man likes sex.    happy wife = more sex

[zelony]

Your wife probably read this forum and came up with that story to make herself look good.

I know of no happily married man.  There are plenty of guys that are content or just don't care, but after a decade of marriage I just think to myself, "A maid, a cook and a massage therapist would be cheaper and there would be no nagging."

One can dream.   

As far as her like or dislike of my hobbies and the stuff I spend my money on, it is my money and I can spend it on whatever I want.  That being said, I make a good living and money is never an issue for us.  When we were younger I wouldn't have wasted money on things like this, so it is all relative.

[ChadTower]

I know of no happily married man. 

I am.  My wife rocks.

[tommy]

because this grown man likes sex.    happy wife = more sex

So she holds all the cards and wears the pants in your relationship? Whatever she wants and whatever she says goes or she takes away things that you enjoy if you do not listen?

You're worse off than i originally thought.

This is what is wrong with relationships. Nothing going on that is equal.

[RTSDaddy2]

I know of no happily married man. 

I am.  My wife rocks.

Mine rocks also - she helped build our cabinet (for those new to the board). Spent time hand-painting the marquee when my hands got tired.   Home schools our 5 year old.  Works a part-time job again.  Does as well as she can to keep our house clean (and it's a chore as we've run out of storage room).  Hasn't nagged me once about our current situation - supports me at every turn, but gives me grief when needed....what more could I ask for (and to the smart alecks on this board -DO NOT answer that)?

I will second every guy on here who brought up the point that so many seemed to miss early on in this thread.  You have your first child coming.  Ours is five, and last year was the first time in a LONG time I got to treat us to a new gadget.  But like they've said, your little one is going to be more interesting and more fascinating than any gadget out there.  At first, you may not quite believe it....but wait 6 months.  Heck, wait 3 - and you will be amazed. 

The best advice I can give you is ALWAYS try and see the world through your child's eyes. You get to live again man - nothing is as special as your child handing your a three leaf clover as a "gift" just because he/she thought it was pretty and wanted to give daddy a gift.  Hugs from your kid - oh, my god.  Take every damn thing I have in my house if you want it, but do NOT take that away from me....I would die a thousand deaths if I couldn't feel those little arms wrap around my neck.

Good luck - you will find this little one soon enough to be the reason you get up in the mornings and go to bed at night...and just think! In 4 -5 years, you can introduce them to the joy of videogames, much as my daughter and I are sharing in now!

[Goz]

Note to self...... don't listen to tommy about dogs or marriage advice.

[saint]

I know of no happily married man.  There are plenty of guys that are content or just don't care, but after a decade of marriage I just think to myself, "A maid, a cook and a massage therapist would be cheaper and there would be no nagging."

My wife and marriage are awesome.

[saint]

The best advice I can give you is ALWAYS try and see the world through your child's eyes. You get to live again man - nothing is as special as your child handing your a three leaf clover as a "gift" just because he/she thought it was pretty and wanted to give daddy a gift.  Hugs from your kid - oh, my god.  Take every damn thing I have in my house if you want it, but do NOT take that away from me....I would die a thousand deaths if I couldn't feel those little arms wrap around my neck.

Amen - what he said. There is no possible way that someone who isn't a parent can truly understand this. I thought I did when I wasn't a parent, but when I had my first child... holy crap my world changed (in a good way). Second best decision I ever made in my life -- getting married. First best decision I ever made in my life -- having kids.

OK.... enough of that sappy stuff, back to building my new bartop cabinet!

[ChadTower]

The best advice I can give you is ALWAYS try and see the world through your child's eyes. You get to live again man - nothing is as special as your child handing your a three leaf clover as a "gift" just because he/she thought it was pretty and wanted to give daddy a gift. 

Damn good advice.  Damn good.  It is amazing how quickly that period of their life ends - and how easily you can miss it by not paying attention.

[CCM]

Sounds like tommy trains his wife like he trains his pit bull.  One day both of them will bite him in the face...

[shardian]

My wife kicks ass. I sooooo take all she does for granted. When she jumps ---my bottom---, it is usually because I need it. She would do anything for me, no matter what.

Oh yeah, and she is cool with the arcade stuff. The only condition is that family and bills come first. IMO, that is quite a reasonable condition since those things matter a whole lot more than arcades. Anyone who values their "toys" over their family has serious priority issues.

[ChadTower]

Anyone who values their "toys" over their family has serious priority issues.

We got a standard photo xmas card from one of my wife's cousins yesterday.  It is a picture of their dog in a little santa outfit in a painstakingly staged photo.

They have a 2 year old child.

[tommy]

Note to self...... don't listen to tommy about dogs or marriage advice.

Keep your rubber sex doll away from your dog and should be ok Goz. 

[Tiger-Heli]

well heres a little update....i am a total --cream-filled twinkie--. 

talked to my wife the other day about this...she brought it up....and i told her that i wasnt mad,  just didnt understand why she wouldnt let me spend my gift cards and such on stuff i wanted to since it was basically given to me for free.

I thought this was going to end differently, and it reminded me of a classified ad I saw recently:

Must sell: 2006 Suzuki GSX-R 1100, 3,000 miles has had recent service (expensive) and all required maintenance.  Cheap!  Sale forced by clarification of terms with my significant other.  Apparently, "Get whatever the <cleveland steamer> you want" doesn't have the same interpretation as the dictionary would lend you to believe.

[hulkster]

i am extremely happily married.  coming up on 4 years in june.  i never had the "tough first year" that all my friends talk about.  never had a fight....disagreements yes, but nothing to fight about.  ive never been mad at my wife, just frustrated like this time.  i love being married, best thing thats ever happened to me.  and 99% of the time, im glad that my wife is more of a penny pincher than i am...otherwise i wouldve bought lots of different things that i ended up not needing in the long run, or i got them for free.  case in point...my 50" hdtv.  my mom got it for me for my birthday...go figure. 

this post was not to bash my wife at all...just voicing my misunderstanding of her thought process and hoping you guys could relate.  some of you did, and did very well, others gave comments like i would have when i was 17 year old frat boy.  but hey, you are only as smart as you post right?  oh wait, im screwed then.