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It can be challenging to have the trains of your dreams as well as a happy wife or girlfriend.

I submit that it’s all in the negotiation.

Here’s my story. My trains run through a tunnel in the wall between my modest-sized playroom and the laundery room in my basement. And, the trains run past the side of the washing machine, run behind the washer dryer, and then after they go through a reverse loop just to the side of the dryer, they again run behind the washer dryer, along the side of the washer and run back through the same tunnel and return to the playroom. My wife does all the laundery for us. I’m sure many wives would object to this, and most people would say for good reason. Obviously, those people don’t include train nuts like us. LOL

So how did I get my wife to accept the above?

First, I agreed to do the grocery shopping most of the time. She hates it and I like to eat, so that’s a win-win. LOL

Next, my wife knows I have a weakness for beautiful women. I bet I’m not alone on this Forum when it comes to that. LOL  Beautiful women, beautiful trains, as I reflect on this, I think they go hand in hand. But my wife is also beautiful, and she is very smart. Long ago she said, well I know if you’re in the basement playing with your trains, at least I know you’re not playing with some bombshell.

So there you have it! It’s all in the negotiation. My wife got what she wants, and I got what I want, which includes one beautiful woman, food in the house, and many beautiful trains! 

LOL, Arnold

PS: if you relate to the above, I would love to hear your thoughts and experience with this topic.

Last edited by Arnold D. Cribari
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Arnold has good grasp on our passion for trains. I have been very fortunate to have found a great wife. She puts up with my obsession for trains. I have never had to negotiate for things. Washer and dryer area......I do the laundry, grocery shopping.......I do it but I do love to grocery shop, cooking............I do it. For negotiating for real estate I never had to but one time I tried for some ceiling space in the kitchen for a G gauge train. Although not totally on the same page it looks like it can still be a topic for future discussion. As to looking at beautiful women, not unless they are steam engine, diesel or electric. Then I notice them. She says I can always buy what I want and in most cases I do but sometimes I talk myself out of it. Like Arnold, she says I know where you are when home running trains or working on the layout and your not out somewhere. She is totally happy with that....................Paul

paul 2 posted:

Arnold has good grasp on our passion for trains. I have been very fortunate to have found a great wife. She puts up with my obsession for trains. I have never had to negotiate for things. Washer and dryer area......I do the laundry, grocery shopping.......I do it but I do love to grocery shop, cooking............I do it. For negotiating for real estate I never had to but one time I tried for some ceiling space in the kitchen for a G gauge train. Although not totally on the same page it looks like it can still be a topic for future discussion. As to looking at beautiful women, not unless they are steam engine, diesel or electric. Then I notice them. She says I can always buy what I want and in most cases I do but sometimes I talk myself out of it. Like Arnold, she says I know where you are when home running trains or working on the layout and your not out somewhere. She is totally happy with that....................Paul

Wonderful!

Arnold, 

  My wife got me back into the hobby back in 1994 so she can't complain too much (since it's mostly her fault).

  I can't grocery shop as that was my first job in life. I don't mind the laundry as its near my "workbench layout."

  Still debating what to do about another (larger) layout. Hoping to retire in 4-5 years to somewhere with lower taxes...leaning towards waiting at this point. 

  I like to say we "operate" our trains...it sounds deeper. 

Tom 

Arnold says "So there you have it! It’s all in the negotiation. My wife got what she wants, and I got what I want, which includes one beautiful woman, food in the house, and many beautiful trains! "

Counselor - spoken as a true lawyer ... " It's all in the negotiation." LOL!  You did omit one thing in addition to "one beautiful woman, food in the house, and many beautiful trains ..... you also get clean laundry

I always enjoy your many insights into this wonderful hobby of ours.  Great thread Arnold!!  Thanks!

MNCW posted:

Arnold, 

  My wife got me back into the hobby back in 1994 so she can't complain too much (since it's mostly her fault).

  I can't grocery shop as that was my first job in life. I don't mind the laundry as its near my "workbench layout."

  Still debating what to do about another (larger) layout. Hoping to retire in 4-5 years to somewhere with lower taxes...leaning towards waiting at this point. 

  I like to say we "operate" our trains...it sounds deeper. 

Tom 

Tom, for a model railroader like yourself, it sounds like you truly have a marriage made in heaven.

trumptrain posted:

Arnold says "So there you have it! It’s all in the negotiation. My wife got what she wants, and I got what I want, which includes one beautiful woman, food in the house, and many beautiful trains! "

Counselor - spoken as a true lawyer ... " It's all in the negotiation." LOL!  You did omit one thing in addition to "one beautiful woman, food in the house, and many beautiful trains ..... you also get clean laundry

I always enjoy your many insights into this wonderful hobby of ours.  Great thread Arnold!!  Thanks!

Pricelessly hilarious and witty, Patrick. And your models and scenes are very witty and creative too. 

trumptrain posted:

Arnold says "So there you have it! It’s all in the negotiation. My wife got what she wants, and I got what I want, which includes one beautiful woman, food in the house, and many beautiful trains! "

Counselor - spoken as a true lawyer ... " It's all in the negotiation." LOL!  You did omit one thing in addition to "one beautiful woman, food in the house, and many beautiful trains ..... you also get clean laundry

I always enjoy your many insights into this wonderful hobby of ours.  Great thread Arnold!!  Thanks!

Patrick, I just read your above reply to my wife, and she laughed and loved it. Thank you.

"It can be challenging to have the trains of your dreams as well as a happy wife or girlfriend."  

What about the trains of your dreams, a beautiful wife and a girlfriend.....LOL

All kidding aside, I couldn't agree more.  I can't cook, I don't know how to operate the washer and dryer, I suck at food shopping.  But I am one hell of a carpenter.  My wife has stood beside me for over forty-five years.  Usually with broom in hand to clean up after me.  She's also gorgeous.  

It always reminds me of the old song by The Band.  

"Up on Cripple Creek she sends me
If I spring a leak she mends me
I don't have to speak she defends me
A drunkard's dream if I ever did see one"

I suppose it is all in the negotiation but in my case I used the tactic of " gentle pressure relentlessly applied" and it worked although it did take me thirty years to finally claim the entire basement as my train empire.  I will admit though that I have a long suffering and patient wife when it comes to my train addiction and she is a real peach to boot. 

Last edited by OKHIKER

My wife Paula is very supportive of my hobby.  My trains are my hobby and she doesn't get involved. I don't bother with her interests and she doesn't bother with mine.  She accompanies me to train social events like Trainstock and will join me at the huge Spring Thaw Meet in Allentown next Saturday. While she hasn't got much interest in looking at tables of trains, she loves the giant Farmers Market (also on the Fairgrounds) across the way.  When we meet up later its common to find fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, household and bakery items in the car truck.  In short I do have a Happy Pretty wife and many good trains. I don't have to look at other women as my wife is 17 years younger, 6' Tall and still has her models figure.

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