Divorce attorneys are the enemy

[Frank Beck]

It seems to me FAR too many guys end up losing half their stuff because they didn't pay as much attention to their wife as they did their stuff. Not pointing all of the blame of course but typically it's the guy who is most responsible.

As a dedicated and certified amateur in armchair marriage counseling I thought it wise to have a loading dock where men (and woman) can share pearls of wisdom, stories, and unsolicited advice. In other words: Keys to a happy marriage. What better subject to encourage one another in so we can promote and prolong our hobby?

Most of us have married up but sometimes it's easy to forget that. A successful marriage is supposed to get better over time, not worse. But this takes lots of investing.
Here are a few freebies:


Avoid using the phrase "It's just one more car."

Never, EVER use the word "beautiful" to describe a car or thing without also incorporating into your language when describing your wife. This is a freshman mistake that many men never learn.

Give one another permission to say "Honey, you're getting a little fat. Maybe it's time to stay off the fries?"

Don't just accept your in-laws, learn to love them by inviting them along for a "ride" in your car. They will never ask to go anywhere with you again as long as you're driving.

[sithot]

Don't just accept your in-laws, learn to love them by inviting them along for a "ride" in your car. They will never ask to go anywhere with you again as long as you're driving.

This works. I have been a recipient.

[uai]

Get a wife that loves Cars....

[928cs]

Get a wife that loves Cars....

I disagree. My ex-wife now owns my first 928 CS.

[911MRP]

"...it was decided I would make all of the big decisions and my wife would make all of the little decisions. For fifty years, we have held true to that agreement. I believe that is the reason for the success in our marriage. However, the strange thing is that in fifty years, there hasn’t been one big decision.
Albert Einstein

Consistent with Einstein's law of "remaining relatives" it was my wife who actually made the decision I should buy a Carrera RS In the early nineties despite her having little interest in cars. She was bored waiting in the showroom for me to ask all the questions and look it over in great detail so eventually having enough of my due diligence told to just buy the damn thing then we could go for the lunch I'd promised. It often helped over the years that it was her decision not mine. I'm often reminded of the fact. While many nice cars have come and gone this one is only long term keeper.

[Frank Beck]

"...it was decided I would make all of the big decisions and my wife would make all of the little decisions. For fifty years, we have held true to that agreement. I believe that is the reason for the success in our marriage. However, the strange thing is that in fifty years, there hasn’t been one big decision.
Albert Einstein

Consistent with Einstein's law of "remaining relatives" it was my wife who actually made the decision I should buy a Carrera RS In the early nineties despite her having little interest in cars. She was bored waiting in the showroom for me to ask all the questions and look it over in great detail so eventually having enough of my due diligence told to just buy the damn thing then we could go for the lunch I'd promised. It often helped over the years that it was her decision not mine. I'm often reminded of the fact. While many nice cars have come and gone this one is only long term keeper.

lol

Reminds me of most engineers I know; they can't commit to save their life because they have a self-imposed paralysis regarding risk.

Wise counsel to any single person who is adverse to risk... marry a free spirit.

[uai]

I disagree. My ex-wife now owns my first 928 CS.

We have his hers and our cars. Our Car is the Firetruck - the rest is split and stays split.

[NZVW]

Uai,
That is so "European" to have a Firetruck 'F7-47' on hand if things get too heated.

[NZVW]

Never, EVER use the word "beautiful" to describe a car or thing without also incorporating into your language when describing your wife.

This is a great thread topic and one that a healthy forum as we have should include.
Being a subject that as men we often sweep under an ever increasing bulging rug it is refreshing to see it have its rightful place here amongst us.

Personally, up until mid last year I have been single for 10 years, not because of divorce, infidelity or the like but due to the unfortunate circumstances of tragedy.

That changed when travelling overseas when I met a wonderful woman who seemed vaguely familiar. As it turned out she lived in my neighbourhood and was also single due to loss.

We arranged to meet once back home and I picked her up to take out for a casual evening.

"What a beautiful car" was one of Rebecca's first comments to which I replied, "car's are good looking, women are beautiful". We have been inseparable since and I am purely 'over the moon'.

When I was single it was easy if not almost natural to treat my cars as 'loved ones'. Unhealthy??? I believes that depends on a persons situation.

The pleasure we get from our vehicles is obvious but to enjoy them with loved ones is so much more.

Our cars are just steel, glass, rubber and replaceable bits of matter, they have a place in our lives for sure but.... looking back on my own personal situation they were a surrogate for what I had missing in my life.

It is just a pure delight to now have someone I love who was not until we met ever really interested in older cars, motorsport or the like but has now seen the "light" and is happy to drive anywhere for any length of time just to cruise or attend a track meet,, albeit sometimes with her knitting which she manages to even do when bumping down the road in the 911.

Look after and love your wife, same goes for all the family, in-laws and all,, our car's are replaceable.

Our loved one's are not.

[setho]

My wife hates when I say this, but it's the advice I give younger people.

Treat marriage like a prison sentence, life without parole.

When you know it's for life, and divorce isn't an option, you find ways of making things work. If divorce is an option in your mind, don't get married.

(Although there are a few instances where it's okay - infidelity, abuse, etc.)