Do you tell your "significant other" when you're getting games?

Silverunicorn

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Do you tell your "significant other" when you're getting games?

I love arcade games and pinball machines. I have 12 in the basement now. Until the other day, I had 9. With the help and generosity of Eagle TG, I get to store some of his working stuff.

Anyway, we took them down last Tuesday. I told my wife that we were moving some games around that night, and she was like "whatever". I did not mention I was putting 3 down there (well, she didn't ask :)). My wife never goes down to play the games. Well Sunday she went to get something out of the basement fridge and I thought to myself...."uh oh, here we go" and I hear the following: "Whoa! Every time I come down here, there's more games!!!!............. Cool".

I found this funny, and while the basement is more of a man cave type space (although I HATE that term), I have to appreciate her patience with my hobby. Not that I normally keep things from her, but I forgot to mention this acquisition.

So I was wondering; do you mention to your significant other when new games are arriving? Or is it a "surprise"?


Chris
 
My wife actually egged me on the last 2 or 3 acquisitions (I was on the fence)...
 
My wife talked me into the current acquisition I'm working on.

General practice is full games I tell her about since they take up space. For boards and parts I don't bother, as she doesn't care.
 
SU, you definitely found a good one.

Any tips for those of us keeping an eye for a 'good one'? ;) Where did you meet your wife, if I may be so bold?

All I usually hear are the horror stories/divorces this hobby causes, That's awesome that your wife enjoys it!
 
My wife is always looking for me freebies and low cost ones. She loves the hobby just as much as me but I need to find a centipede and a frogger for her one of these days.
 
Easier to ask forgiveness than permission. :)

^This.
icon7.gif
 
I always ask if it is okay to pick up a game.

Her usual response is: Do you have room? And I say: "I don't know."

No trouble yet so far.

ArcadeMaze!
 
SU, you definitely found a good one.

Any tips for those of us keeping an eye for a 'good one'? ;) Where did you meet your wife, if I may be so bold?

All I usually hear are the horror stories/divorces this hobby causes, That's awesome that your wife enjoys it!

It's not so much that she "enjoys" it, it's more that she tolerates it. Actually, that's not right either. Not sure what word to use. She doesn't mind it :)

She is the best! At the risk of some jokes, we did meet at a family picnic. She was a friend of my cousin, and had nothing to do one Memorial Day weekend, so she came with my cousin to the picnic. We talked, then talked on the phone in the weeks after. We were friends for a year before we started dating, then dated for a year and a half, then were engaged for almost a year. We have been married 10 years now. If it matters, we did not live together before we were married.

By far, it was the best thing I ever did. She may disagree, LOL. We have similar interests, but each have our own stuff as well. She is, without a doubt, my best friend (sorry Todd).

I am incredibly lucky to have her in my life. It's not all been rainbows and roses, but we have a great relationship. I am very laid back and she is very understanding, and I will leave it at that. We have had only 1 real memorable argument in 10 years. We have ahd hard times, and has only brought us closer together as a couple.

I can only wish everyone would be able to meet someone so great. Go to your family picnics!! LOL.

Chris
 
She doesn't really care. We've been together a long time and she has seen me go through it with everything from guns to motorcycles to Jeeps. The games just carry on the tradition.

At least with the games, I get mostly cheap beaters and fix them up.
 
Absolutely... anything that comes into the house is discussed. We share the space, the last thing I want is her feeling invaded by this hobby (and I've come close)... so yeah... its discussed.
 
I dont have to ask, but generally ill let her know that im looking at another. With having a warehouse full, she really doesnt know what i have, so its real easy just to say that its one of mine that was at the warehouse. Her only rule is that they cant come up the stairs. I live in a bilevel house, so i get all the ground floor areas, and i have them pretty full. but i do rotate, I was nice and let her know that i was probably going to get the new Wiz of Oz pin, which i expected her to be completley against, since it is a 7k machine. But was quite surprised when she said as long as i dont touch our savings account to get it, that she didnt care.
 
I love arcade games and pinball machines. I have 12 in the basement now. Until the other day, I had 9. With the help and generosity of Eagle TG, I get to store some of his working stuff.

Anyway, we took them down last Tuesday. I told my wife that we were moving some games around that night, and she was like "whatever". I did not mention I was putting 3 down there (well, she didn't ask :)). My wife never goes down to play the games. Well Sunday she went to get something out of the basement fridge and I thought to myself...."uh oh, here we go" and I hear the following: "Whoa! Every time I come down here, there's more games!!!!............. Cool".

I found this funny, and while the basement is more of a man cave type space (although I HATE that term), I have to appreciate her patience with my hobby. Not that I normally keep things from her, but I forgot to mention this acquisition.

So I was wondering; do you mention to your significant other when new games are arriving? Or is it a "surprise"?


Chris

My wife always knows - I don't like to spend significant money without warning her (it wouldn't be good if she planned to spend the same money!). If it's REALLY expensive, I'd actually make sure she was OK with it, but so far my games haven't been too expensive.
 
The trick is to buy your wife something nice before you bring a new game home:)

Correction, the trick is to make sure her parking space stays clear at all times and having your own arcade slush fund. This works for me and it's non of her damn business where that money goes. Some of you guys need to ask for your balls back and it shouldn't cost you something nice.
 
I work three jobs so my wife can be a stay-at-home mom for our three kids. With what little free time I have I like to watch hockey, listen to music and play arcade games. At first she thought I was crazy collecting games but once I got them working and she saw me teaching the kids how to play I think she came to an understanding.
I picked up a Centipede because it was her favorite game and she actually encouraged me to pick up my Ms. Pac. I'm also in the process of converting my Time Pilot '84 to a Frogger because it is a definite kid/wife favorite.
I'm always looking for new machines but money and space (if only I had a basement!) are very limited right now. She's asked me to hold off and enjoy what I have and when things get better I can add new machines.
So to answer the original question...yes, I typically do check things out first.
(but if a Star Wars cockpit came up for sale in the area she wouldn't have a clue until it was in the garage!)
 
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