Searching back, we have not hashed this out for a while, so I'm tossing it out. Basically, my wife and I have been married for over 30 years. We collect different things. Her passion is murder mysteries. (She belongs to clubs, edits professionally, goes to conventions and conferences.) She also likes presents. So, when I go to a numismatic convention, I bring something back for her. Sometimes, she finds it more interesting, other times less. She is also a Jane Austen person, so that opens some doors for English material to bring home. As for my collecting, I never did much of it, mostly in the mid-1990s. I write. So, I buy what I need to write about, but I am not sniping on eBay or going to the coin store every Saturday. So, my interests do not get in the way. Our daughter is grown up on on her own. So, no kids, now. Also, until a few years ago, I flew, which is way more expensive than coins, at least, at my level. In other words, for my income level, a person like me flying would be like you buying coins 10x more expensive than your current level. I gave up a lot to be in a plane. (And I wrote about it all, also, going to air shows, interviewing people, etc.) So, coins were always second place in terms of expenses. Over the years, we sort of worked out modes for independent finances. When we were a young family, there was more pooled incomes and expenses: rent, cars, the kid, of course... But we always had allowances. Mine was 10% of my take-home[*], whether W-2 income or freelance or whatever. Now that we have all of that in a habitual framework, the mode is reversed with each of us having almost totally independent finances, but with shared tallies for the basic stuff. Who goes shopping for groceries is more a matter of convenience than necessity at this point. Realize that one expense for me is making the conventions because I typically have to forego work in order to volunteer for the coin club. So, there is that. ----- [*] There was this time, I got a really good job. When I came home with the money, my wife asked, "Where's the rest?" I reminded her of my 10%. "You don't get 10% of that," she said. I got 5% for the next two years.
I am like you in the fact that my wife and I have been married for over thirty years. Good luck to you and your beautiful bride.
LOL.......Busted by the Sheriff eh Mike? Know what you mean. The bride and I are goin' on 36 years (Aug 18). She likes collecting dolls, designing dolls, and making quilts and I like collecting....well you know. Marriage made in heaven.
My wife and I enjoy the hobby, but I am more passionate about it than she is. We go to most coin shows together. Our coin interests are different; however, it adds spice to the hobby. I am also getting my daughter gradually interested in coin collecting.
