Keeping your better half happy

[Fink]

Man, some of you guys have been married a long damn time! Congrats! When my wife and I met, I first told her "September 1 through January 15th is Fink time. I don't do birthday parties, Halloween parties, or nuthin. I'll go to Christmas and Thanksgiving. But, in return, the rest of the year is yours to do with me as you see fit."
We just celebrated our 5 year anny in May. Every year, we take a week off to go somewhere of her choice.
After spending every weekend with my messy self for a few months, she's pretty much ready for me to head out for 2 weeks in September, and says "I'll clean the house after you leave, and won't have to clean it again until after you get back!"

 

[25contender]

Not far behind you on this 31 years here and our wives must know each other!! When I am home I am home to the point it drives her nuts. Something tells me she is ready to get rid of me for a few months. Her dad and I hunted together many years before he died so she knows about hunting passion. OP You shouldnt need to buy her any gifts.

Been married 38 years. My wife helps me pack!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

CC, thanks for the note. What was your career?

I am a retired aerospace research engineer.

 

[BrettKoenecke]

I do not darken the door of our home without gifts. Your wife, your life. You know what works for you. I stop at the mall on the way home and spend some time and thought and money on them. Someone took care of the dog while I was gone, did all the housework, drove the kids around, etc. Needs to be appreciation shown for that in some form. The form varies from marriage to marriage. Be thoughtful is my advice.

 

[BrettKoenecke]

Married 40 years next month, and yes we were teeenagers...well, I was 4 weeks into my 20s, but she was 19, and we're not even from the South!

I read a good book someone at church gave me called The Five Love Languages, which are supposedly 1) words of affirmation, 2) physical touch, 3) gifts, 4) deeds of service and 5) quality time. Most people have one or two that stand out and are much less affected by the others. If you and your wife differ, which we certainly do, you can put a lot of effort into trying to show love and wonder why in the world she doesn't feel loved.

When I learned that my wife's strongest two were deeds of service and quality time, followed by gifts, that really helped because those are really not mine at all and it helped me learn to show love the way she feels loved.

So, with that in mind, if I get my honey-do list done before I go hunting, maybe do something she doesn't expect, spend quality time with her when I am not hunting and bring her back a little something, that all goes a long ways. We also go on vacations together but a regular walk together in the evenings probably matters as much.

This is good advice. Very.

 

[tttoadman]

Not far behind you on this 31 years here and our wives must know each other!! When I am home I am home to the point it drives her nuts. Something tells me she is ready to get rid of me for a few months. Her dad and I hunted together many years before he died so she knows about hunting passion. OP You shouldnt need to buy her any gifts.

That makes me laugh. By the second day of a long weekend off, my wife just says to "Get the %^^&& out of here before you drive me nuts". I assume it is because i am sitting staring out the window like a dog wanting to go for a walk. She asks me if i am planning to go somewhere this weekend, and I say "I was just thinking about it". The definition of me "thinking about it" is printed topo and Google earth maps and the mapquest driving route in a stack on the corner of the counter. She knows me too well.

 

[Hilltop]

I have been with my wife 12 years. She struggled to understand my passion the first few years but she has progressively gotten more involved. 5 years ago she shot her first deer. Last year she took a nice buck antelope. This year she goes for her first elk... She said at first she wanted to be included just to spend more time with me while doing something I was so passionate about. The tables have truly turned and now she is gaining her own passion for the outdoors. She understands there are still some trips that I need by myself but it is hard to leave her at home when I know she wants to go. I realize everyone's situation is different but I believe many women would enjoy hunting if given the opportunity. I do my best to take one new person hunting every year- many times it ends up being women. I have never had one not enjoy it... I encourage you husbands to give your wife a chance- most will say they don't want to do it at first because they will be intruding on your passion. If you talk them into trying it you just may improve your marriage... I did mine.

 

[buzz mc]

Aruba helps.



In reality, my wife takes more trips with her girlfriends than I take on hunting and fishing trips. She's glad to see me go.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

I am still trying to figure out how "I" get to hunt and fish now that we are married My wife is truly a gift from God. One of the most beautiful people I have ever met. Most of you will never have any idea how loyal she has been through very difficult circumstances.

 

[tdcour]

We just celebrated our 5 year in May this year too. My wife stays at home and raises our daughter... so she works harder than I do. Her big thing she likes is when I cook, clean, do laundry, etc. so she can put her feet up and watch some TV or do some gardening. She knows how much I love to hunt, but I know that if I want my marriage to last that I have to put into it what I want to get out of it. She knows I am busy with work at times and can't always be home even when I am at home, but be she also knows that I make it a point to spend time with her no matter how busy I am.

 

[Timberstalker]

Asking her if she want to go anywhere while I'm gone always seems to help, she doesn't always go somewhere but at least she know I want her to have fun too.

 

[d.kerri]

Asking her if she want to go anywhere while I'm gone always seems to help, she doesn't always go somewhere but at least she know I want her to have fun too.

This has been my latest tactic. She jumped all over this idea!

 

[RUTTIN]

I usually go on three 10 day hunting trips plus weekends from August through November my wife just knows that is who I am. She is pretty good as long as I work and bring home the bacon and she can stay at home with the kids she is good. My philosophy is if daddy ain't happy ain't no one happy!!!


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[Musket Man]

I dont tell her what to do and she dont tell me what to do. If 1 of us wants to go do something or if we want to go some were together we figure out a way to make it work!

 

[Retterath]

when im not out hunting or scouting i spend quality time with the family and most of the time if im scouting or hanging trail cams the fam will come with. She knows i love hunting and tells me she will never take that away or try to limit my time with it, she also enjoys hunting also.

 

[Timberstalker]

This has been my latest tactic. She jumped all over this idea!

I think it is important for the wife to have something to look forward to like we do hunting, what ever that may be.

 

[arwaterfowler]

I'm a firm believer that a good wife helps make me a better hunter. I can spend more time in the field and focus on the hunt. The only time she has a problem with my hunting is when I don't bring something home. We are out of elk meat so she is looking forward to filling the freezer.


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[MAKAIRA]

I am still trying to figure out how "I" get to hunt and fish now that we are married My wife is truly a gift from God. One of the most beautiful people I have ever met. Most of you will never have any idea how loyal she has been through very difficult circumstances.

You definitely married UP!!!

 

[hoshour]

A book I think has a good bit of wisdom says, "He who loves his own wife loves himself (Ephesians 5:8).

 

[OregonJim]

Bringing back meat always helps......

A couple of years ago my wife's collie passed away.
She had it in her head to rescue one and after 4 months of trying to find one in OR/WA she found one in Phoenix (thats AZ not OR).
So after driving out to CO in July, we turned south and drove to AZ to rescue an eleven year old collie.

I got a lot of hunting miles out of that trip.

Bummer he turned out to be a Man's Dog :roll eyes:
But she is still happy!!!!!