What is a spouse to do

[IndyTom]

this is our 35 Anniversary and we still spend the majority of our time together.

Tom

[PKCSPT]

Like Eaglesdare my husband and I are very different. The differences weren't so obvious til our last child was a teenager and now empty nest. I love to travel and camp he prefers hotels or better yet staying home.
I didn't build me tear but bought one. But I do the home improvements and he stays away from all tools (his dad never let him help with anything). He will help me paint sorta. Your question was what do I do, same as my dad did when I was a kid. I remember one time he was painting the kitchen cabinets and I wanted to help, he let me,, musta been 9 or so. Next day he proudly showed me mom what a great job I did. Not til years later did I learn after I went to bed he repainted my work. But I learned to try things. ( I now wonder how many times he that, but he always let me help)
I let my husband help and if I don't like the results I do it over when I am home alone. Why, because I love being with him and if that means an extra coat of paint later on I am ok with that. Besides he has gotten a better.

[Forrest747]

I have always tried to include the kids in what ever project I am doing. It was a chore sometimes for the three oldest but the youngest has taken to projects like a duck to bread. I was building a deck once and had a set way of the bolts and washers. i went in for a drink and when i came out Gremlin had all the bolts and washers set up all in a row.

Jennie knows that she is welcome out in teh garage any time. She also starts a new shift at the hospital this week which will give me a couple of hours out in the garage. enough time to work out there then clean up and have supper ready when she gets home. Life is good.

[Mightydog]

My wife and I have jobs that we do.

She is a wiz with measuring. Having sewn her own clothing during high school and after having made two wedding dresses for daughters, she gets my vote for being to measure and cut. When we bought the chop saw, she picked it out and runs it. I usually hold the wood to make sure it's level and not falling to the floor.

On the other hand, I run the router and circular saw. I also do all of the electrical wiring. As we design the trailer, it's my job to be sure that I speak up on behalf of the needs of the electrical components.

We only work together as both of us have ideas and suggestions. I can't really think of any specific thing in the trailer that one or the other of us could point to and say, "...that's me..." The one thing I do by my self is sanding. It's therapy for me and drives my wife crazy.

If nothing else, Forrest, ask for opinions and ideas as you move forward.

[bobhenry]

I WILL STOP SHORT OF HER BEING MANAGEMENT AND MYSELF BEING LABOR ...

However I do value her opinions and would often tottered in from the yard to ask her opinion on this or that. On the other hand if she got curious she would wander out with a cold beer in hand and casually ask what I was working on and offer suggestions. She has a good head for space saving ideas and design, and I took full advantage of that fact. I have credited her several times before, for the flip out kitchen. She described it's operation to me and all I had to do was figure out how to execute it.

It was kinda funny how this came to be. I jumped in and started and she would simply stand at the sink looking out at me in the side yard working away on this "THING" and shake her head. As it started to take shape she would investigate from her window without a word said. Then the fateful day arrived when I started on the "little kitchen" as I described it to her and bam! There she was at my elbow nose deep in the design of her cookin' space.

[mike_c]

Kathy helps out with the trailer build regularly-- she helped put the exterior luan on yesterday. I tend to do the more skilled jobs, not because I'm better skilled necessarily but because they're more difficult to communicate clearly, and it's often easier to just do them myself. Kathy's other limitation is that she isn't as strong as I-- it's hand and wrist strength mainly, not heavy-duty lifting umph that limits her use of some tools. On the other hand, she can still stand inside the teardrop and poke up through the 14 inch fan hole to do stuff on top, while I have to cantilever off ladders or stand on the (still) open galley floor.

--Mike C.

[mike_c]

this is our 35 Anniversary and we still spend the majority of our time together. --Jack

BRAVO!

[rebapuck]

If your spouse gets to griping about the time you are spending on your build, remind them that at least they know where you are and what you are doing.

[mary and bob]

We didn't do a "build" but a restoration on a vintage teardrop. It was the wife's idea to buy it and I have to say it was an excellent move on her part. It required a lot of paint stripping and she did her share. Also we had to do riveting, using a air gun and dolly so she was the dolly person. She did polishing, parts runs, made curtains and a quilt too. Plus she paid for the trailer and some of the restoration costs! We had fun through the whole process and continue having fun camping, car shows and cruise-ins. Now retired and coming up on our 45th wedding anniversary this year. Sweet life!! Bob

[Shadow Catcher]

My wife is truly brilliant (one of the reasons I married her) but she will be one of the first to admit mechanically, well less than...
Besides I think of it as marriage insurance, she can't afford to get rid of me.

[rowerwet]

my wife helped me get the walls vertical after they were cut and framed. other than that I did it all and she took care of the kids (4). I do plan what it will have when it is "done" based on what I know she wants (potty, shower, place to stand to dress) she is normally willing to try what I want, her parents didn't do much of anything, so it is all an adventure. some times she surprises me, like on our tenth anniv. when I got her to try whitewater rafting. after weeks of "you're trying to get rid of me" "I'm gonna drown", she came out with "is that all?" after the first mild rapid, now she wants to try something tougher than a "granny" run. (class II). the TD was another of my projects she may enjoy later on, like my boat building had led to her enjoying paddling around in them, in spite of the fact she can't swim and doesn't trust the water. The big selling point to her is the fact that I could build it cheaper than buying a TD, and we can stay in it cheaper than a motel.