Pat,
Another thing that you can do is buy a 4 seater convertible, such as a Stag,
my choice was a Mustang.
Phil Smith
TR6
----- Original Message -----
From: Pat Fischer <pfischer@unicom.net>
To: Bill Brewer <bbrewer@lightspeed.net>
Cc: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2000 1:34 PM
Subject: Re: Triumphs verse Wife
>
> Ouch! It's the "significant other who doesn't understand my car" issue!
> Thinking over the years I've spent in British car clubs, some car owners
come by
> themselves and many come with spouses. Actually, most of those whose
wives come
> to events are couples without childen or with children who are grown.
Those
> couples have the time to participate, perhaps?
>
> I was one of those Triumph wives, but very early on I got involved with
the
> cars, helping in mechanical work and going to all events. I got involved
to the
> extent that when we broke up I kept the TR250 we owned. (Careful what you
wish
> for.)
>
> But this is not your situation. If you wife is taking care of 3 small
children
> (whew!) she's a very busy lady! I wonder if it may be this free time to
enjoy
> yourself that she is jealous of. Does she have something like that for
herself,
> too? Can you help make sure that she gets that time off? Or is there
some help
> you could give her using the 90 minutes of one of those mornings?
>
> Your TR3s are not exactly family cars; it doesn't seem that you could all
go
> someplace in them unless your wife is a Triumph driver, too. And I know
that
> getting small children ready to go anywhere is a hassle and that time for
> parents is precious to come by. I guess I'm suggesting a little
compromise
> worked out with your wife while the children are small. It seems that it's
not
> just the cars that are important to you, but that you actually ejnoy the
> puttering time. Tell her that and ask her what compromise would make her
feel
> better about your hobby. Make sure she gets some benefit!
>
> As you follow messages on the list you'll find that many car owners have
> involved their children with the car hobby around the age of 10 or 12, and
it
> has become a great experience for all involved. So, probably better times
are
> ahead when the children are older, your wife less busy and the cars can be
more
> fun for everyone. Good luck to you both! I wouldn't have given up my
Triumph
> adventures and travels and people I've met for anything.
>
> Pat Fischer
>
>
>
> Bill Brewer wrote:
>
> > Hey Listers,
> > This is a serious and sensitive issue.
> > SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed), IE my wife, has a problem with my
cars
> > (two TR-3's). I get up at 0430 every morning to work on them while she
and
> > our three young children are still sleeping. I get 90 minutes personal
time
> > every morning which is divided 50/50 between Triumphs and studying the
> > Bible. I find it easy to jump out of bed at the thought of being able to
> > work on the car with a hot cup of tea, unmolested.
> > My kids love to ride in the TR.
> > My wife thinks that it is okay sometimes.
> >
> > I am trying to placate my wife. I do things that might help her to
join
> > and enjoy my hobby. Our British car club is very wife friendly and
> > essentially everyone comes with their wife. I take her with me to two
yearly
> > car shows (and shopping after) and see if she likes any aspect of the
hobby.
> > It turns out that she has always loved Morris Minor Woody Wagons
> > (Travellers). There may be one in our garage someday.
> > If my wife came home and caught me in bed with her best friend she
> > would say "Well at least he wasn't working on that F***ing Triumph."
> > The Triumph and airplane were both here long before the wife. Maybe
> > they are the last strongholds of bachelorhood that she is trying to
purge.
> > Can any listers provide any usefull lessons learned and helpful
> > suggestions? There could be some real nuggets of wisdom out there.
> > I love my wife and am a dedicated husband and father. My wife views
the
> > Triumph as the "other woman". I feel that life is too short not to drive
a
> > roadster.
> > Thanks
> > Bill Brewer
>
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