I should have listened to Norman..... [long]

One of the first things I learned when I joint this forum was SWMBO, by Norman. Next to being plain funny, it of course gives a very familiar feeling....
Anyway, as some of you may know, I have been looking for a classic wagon for some time now. Looked at many, but as my modern Subaru wouldn't sell for decent money, it was not really an option. A few weeks ago, I decided to put the car for sale on another bidding site here as well. Well, maybe it was the large amounts of snow we have had, I don't really know, but there was a lot of interest from day one! After a week, I had even a bid that almost match my asking price, something I never expected!
Normally I always have a list of cars I would like to buy, if I had the money, but this time it was not that clear. So I set out to look a few cars, till I came across a car I had been looking at over a year ago. I really wanted it then, but was sold pretty quickly. It is a 1968 Ford LTD Country Squire 390 in light green. Very, very good condition, really what I was looking for. I did test drive it, looked it over on a lift; just perfect!
I made a deal with the guy of the Ford and with the buyer of my Subaru. One thing was still missing, I still didn't tell the misses..... I made a deal that on a friday the guy would come to collect the Subaru and the next day I would go to collect the Ford. During the week before, I tried to tell my wife, but as she was so against it, and it came a bit as a surprise, she never really believed me. She just thought I was pestering here a bit, even though I showed photoos etc.
Friday came and I had a appointment with the buyer at the station. I sold the Subaru, but when I came back, my wife was still acted as nothing happened. I have to say that communication had reduced to the absolute minimum during that week. During dinner, another guy called for the Subaru and when I pronounced the words: "O, you are too later, it just has been sold", it became reality. I really had to duck as stuff suddenly went flying and let's put it this way, I learned that the bed in the attic sleeps well......
My wife is really against it, as we drive the 3500km roundtrips to Italy a few times a year, and she doesn't think it is really possible (also after the bad experience with the Caprice). The next morning there was a pack of snow and together with the knowledge that this car would really stress the relationship, I called the Ford off.
It took a day and a bit, but on the Sunday we were already looking together for something new. As my wife wanted something else, just for a change, from the low wagons we had in the past few years, we starting to look fro something higher. To make along story short (hmmm...), we have ended up with a 1999 Range Rover. We have had an older Jaguar XJ and this is certainly the same style.

Result is now that I am actually wagonless (although, the cabin dimensions really resemble a wagon), but much happier as we have a car that we both like.

Sorry I didn't believe you the first time, Norman!

 

I was watching some comedian show, one evening. The guy asked if anyone knew why wives were called 'Housekeepers' in a lot of surveys and even on the media (TV, Radio, etc.) even by women!

The audience was silent...

He said that after the divorce, they keep the house.

SWMBO is easier to deal with than all that mess.

 

Hang in there Senri a wagon will show up for ya. I am still looking myself.

 

Actually....I think this is a really sad story.

 

To bad about no wagon but there is alot of truth in the saying, "if moms not happy, the whole house is'nt happy"

I'm sure there is another wagon in your future, give it time.

 

Another wagon in his future?? Hey...he FOUND the one he always wanted and it was in great shape. Then he made a quick and satisfactory deal on both selling his car so he would have the money and made the deal on the one he wants. Then wifey gets a little hissy and now he doesn't have his original car anymore, has to balk on the new wagon that he always wanted deal and ends up with a Range Rover?? What's wrong with THIS picture?? Sorry, but I would have considered a different trade. But then, maybe that's why I don't have a woman in my life right now.

 

Bummer, Senri. Maybe you should've gotten rid of the Mrs instead of the Subaru. (Just kidding, just kidding.) Who knows, maybe the Ford would've turned out to be troublesome and you know darn well that anytime you would've had to have put some money into it, you would've heard about it. You've got to keep peace in the household, that's the #1 priority. Plus, now instead of you owing her a favor, she owes you one, which is a much better postion in which to be.
You'll get a wagon back and I dare say, it'll be one that you'll like even better than the Ford. In the meanwhile, enjoy the Land Rover.

 

Sunday morning is when the wife plugs in some 'chick flick' Today was Bridget Jones' Diary. After the flick, there's a whole bunch of Single Women advisers on dating. men and women. So I come back to my comment that you have to at least treat the Wife like the partner you chose her for.

I draw the line on commonsense, and I'm humbled at times that mine often, not frequently, just often, has a good point, IF I do consult her. I FREQUENTLY don't consult her, and find myself kicking my butt about my decisions, but at least I can take responsibility for my bad ones.

When it comes to vehicles, she defers to me. In the house renos, that's a mine-field of tiptoeing. Unfortunately, she has the handiness of a whimp noodle, but she knows what she wants, just not how to communicate it in technical terms. Very frustrating for an engineering brain. She's lucky that I usually think 'out-of-the-box', most of the time. I can 'get' what she's trying to conceptualize.

Women have an uncanny trait of objecting without knowing why. Abe Lincoln's secretary and JFK's secretary proved that out sadly. They have a hunch, an intuition that sometimes proves out right. Sadly, they often use that fact that they do have that trait to misdirect their mates, and do themselves a serious misjustice in the credibility and consistency territory, when it really matters. That's where we guys really have to dig in and call a fake 'feeling' for what it is. And do it tactfully without deprecating this innate trait. Sometimes, it can save our lives.

 

You know guys, I really think it is better this way. One point is that I still don't have a garage. With the salty and humid air overhere, it is really not the best enviroment to put such a classic outside. Of course, every thing is possible, but it would be much more sensible if such a car could be inside, both for preservation and so I can do some work on it myself. Call me a snob, but I feel I have past the stage to have to jack the car up in the street and ly under it in the dirt...
Secondly, I also understand my wife and here objections. I can't deny that a modern car is more comfortable, certainly on the 15 hour trips to Italy, then any classic I had. That doesn't mean it is not possible, but the low noise level, the climate control, most of the time better seats etc, make a classic a trade off (not to speak about safety, but I don't want to open that can of worms again....). I would be more then willing to take those compromises, but I also do understand that my wife, who doesn't have this passion and although she can appriciate nice lines etc (she is Italian after all), is more concerned with going from A to B with it, finds it a bit too much.

I don't go through life as a single and seeing every compromise as a negative thing. Compromising is an aspect of every relationship and keeps me on track as well. It is more then true that a happy house is more important to me then "win" this by keeping my foot down. I am interested in cars in general, so I can be very happy with this one too!!

 

Senri, I wish I had a garage too. I built a storage shed in the backyard last fall. It was my test run to see if any inspectors came around to hassle me. I built it just under the allowable size that I could without a building permit. Nobody came. After my renovations this year, I'm going to put one up. Enough fooling around. So much that I could do all winter long, and no place to play.

That's a long trip from the Netherlands to the Italian boot. Nice highways and the folks really DRIVE like they mean it. Especially in Germany.

 

...leave him alone Foxy!!!...
...Foxy...theres a reason you and I are bachelors!!!!
and we have NO business having a opinion here

SENRI....you do what you have to brother...we got your back

 

And my wife just plugged in an Austin Powers flick... Goldmember...

How am I ever gonna watch that flick without thinking of you 2 guys!

 

I'm so sorry this happened Senri but it's just too funny to us that think we run things.

 

Well, Rev....when it comes to CARS in a marriage I think we DO have a right to comment.However.....in view of Senri's own last comment and the comments of others since......I am SO going to reserve comment.

 

No problem, guys!!! I kind of expected and maybe even hoped for such reactions.
I promise you one thing though, I will have a classic wagon again one day!