Wife (husband) support your LEGO hobby?

[Andy D]

How much does your spouse support your LEGO addiction, err hobby?

The other day my wife and I were talking after a significant, well, for me significant LEGO purchase for the double points advantage. Every October, I purchase an amount of LEGO for me and we purchase a fair amount ($300-$400) for a Christmas toy drive we participate in each year.

Anyway she asked me if I was looking at anything else for this October. I mentioned that I was eventually going to get the new Sydney Opera House as soon as I had enough points to pay for half of it.. She asked how much and how many points I currently have. I told her $320 for the set and I have $100 in points. Doing some quick math that means I would need another $60 in points. This would mean I would need to spend another $600 in October or $1200 the rest of the year to get $60 in points. She asked me if I (needed) wanted sets totaling that any time soon. I said, "well no". She thought a minute and said "seems like if you use the $100 now that I would only have to pay an additional $220 for the set now and get double points on the remainder of the purchase, plus there's the bonus Christmas set."

Hmm.. Why didn't I think of that???

So last night we dropped by the LEGO store and got what was probibly the last Opera House at our local store before double points is finished for this year. I know I could have ordered it at shop@home, but they are no longer advertising the free Christmas Tree lot.

Anyway, in what ways does your spouse think of ways to support your LEGO hobby?

Andy D

[Drachmyre]

Usually looks at my pile... Rolls her eyes with a crooked smile and wanders off. We have a standing deal... Any money I make in overtime I get to spend on hobbies.

[JopieK]

She is also into it, so she does, I selected her on that (actually kidding about that ;)) she has the more expensive sets I'm afraid ;)

[obsidianheart]

If by "support" you mean "tries as hard as she can to ignore", then yes, yes she does "support" my LEGO hobby.

[TheLegoDr]

Wow, that's great. She has a logical/mathematical mind to help out in those situations.

My wife is understanding and supportive, but she doesn't usually go out of her way to trouble herself with them. I get excited when I build something and show her and she feigns interest for my sake, but she really couldn't care less I think. She claims she wished she had LEGO growing up but her parents wouldn't buy it for her. I'd assume she'd be more interested, but since she never had the bug before, she probably never will.

Normally she will ask what I may want or if there is anything new out and I'll show her and then she'll be on her way. She just loves me. Plus, it's a hobby that is creative with something physical to show for it compared to a hobby where it amounts to nothing (video games is the big example she uses).

[Churchill]

If by "support" you mean "tries as hard as she can to ignore", then yes, yes she does "support" my LEGO hobby.

This is great! The only problem is when it takes up kitchen counter space... But in general I would describe my wife as "tolerant."

Edited October 26, 2013 by Churchill

[AlmightyArjen]

My girlfriend is just supportive. Sometimes she thinks I'm out of my mind when I order stuff worth €300 at Bricklink (I'm not really into sets, but I like to build my own technical thingies) but when she sees me building/creating/programming my robots and automated trains she is just amazed how I come up with the ideas and how I'm able to make it all work in the end. By now when I'm working on something she's really curious in what I'm building and asks me also things like "did you solve the problem that you were working on last week"? Can't complain I guess!

Edit: she just doesn't like it when I need to free the whole living room for a train-project during the weekend though...

Edited October 26, 2013 by AlmightyArjen

[New_guy]

With my wife it's not about the money I spend, it is about the time I devote to my projects and the opportunity costs of what I could be doing otherwise. To set a good example for my kids, I always try to have my "chores" done before Lego "playtime." Most of the time she just wants more time with me, otherwise she is respectful of my hobby and generally enjoys my Lego projects when they are complete.

[Andy D]

Some very interesting responses. Some were quite humerous, I wish you luck with your relationships.

I guess I wasn't clear, but several of you got it anyway... I was really thinking of **all** ways your spouse supports your hobby, not just money.

One thing for sure, she/he knows where you are, you are not out drinking and carousing (no money left over after LEGO) and my wife is glad I spend the money on LEGO instead of cigarettes (I quit that nonsense 23 years ago). But I still make it a point to get things for her and I never question what she spends on clothes or shoes or anything she wants.

Andy

[Churchill]

Yeah, all those other factors are true. My wife knows that when I'm online for hours, I'm looking at Lego (Eurobricks!) and not any other, shall we say, questionable sites!