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I hope you own sufficient power tools.

- Grab a copy of "La Simplicité volontaire, plus que jamais" by Serge Mongeau, and place a load of post-its in each chapter, and furious highlighting across great swathes of the text...

TJ

Since she already knows you have an emotional attachment to your belongings (e.g. naming your bicycle - great reference!) I'd play that angle. Start telling stories about that fishing trip, or all the people who sat in that chair, or how that Winger t-shirt saved democracy.

Saturday morning, you may just find yourself standing in Ikea, wondering just how the hell you got there.

No, it's just that I'm married!

I hope you own sufficient power tools.

Yeah, that is the second fold of the problem. I am a handy man. I will be "naturally" assigned to it.

encyclo

then move the post-its either to pages... Buy, say, a cycling magazine... Grab a copy of "La Simplicité volontaire, plus que jamais"... No, it's just that I'm married!

encyclo, you are a very professional husband.

trillianjedi

Encyclo - you are a true pro.

I fully agree! This can be a lot of fun. Plus, it will prolong negociations.

Just buy her a really expensive gift and be done with it.

So she ends up with both the expensive gift and the interior redocorations extravaganza, trillianjedi?

sherwoodseo

Is she your live-in girlfriend? I would start planning your defenses.

Yes, with her 2 teenaged daughters. This maybe a plot. :)

emotional attachment to your belongings (e.g. naming your bicycle - great reference!) I'd play that angle.

Almost all of my belongings are intrenched in the garage already. They already invaded the rest of the house, exept my wokshop in the basement. I called it Alamo. :)

sem4u

I'm more worried that you have a name for your bicycle

sherwoodseo

and what a name. Don Quichotte's horse

It's all Troels's fault.
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edit_g

Have you considered that she might be baiting you?

There is no doubt about it. The question here is how and when to bite at it.

So far, encyclo seems to have the best approach at it. He is a higly qualified husband. :)

Define your space now, before she defines it for you.

Ah, the warning sirens are really sounding with that comment, along with the fact that your girlfriend doesn't use the garage in the summer. She could be building up to a garage or basement conversion. To arms, comrade, and defend your territory from the marauding invaders!

So she ends up with both the expensive gift and the interior redocorations extravaganza

Not if you spend all your money on the expensive gift (and borrow more also while you're about it).

Heck, it may bankrupt you, but at least you won't have to buy a tool belt.

TJ

Or maybe you secretly want a toolbelt?

That would be my vote. Then just tell her not to touch the garage or basement, and leave her to it.

Almost all of my belongings are intrenched in the garage already. They already invaded the rest of the house, exept my wokshop in the basement. I called it Alamo. :)

One: you appear to be in denial ...
Two: you have already lost the living space ...
Three: so ... is she likely to redecorate the garage and/or basement?
Four: Your knowledge of history ... is it accurate? Shall we remember you fondly each year gradually enhancing the mythos of Macguru going down swinging his hammer under an onslaught of pink and lace?
Five: Ah poor Macguru I knew him when ...
Six: It was hopeless you know ... one woman ... two teenage daughters ... a man in love ... think of the anguish of knowing the pod people are making you over in their image ...

sob ... sob ...

Nice skirt btw. :)

*Girlfriend and Wife are one and the same.

I have learnt so much from this thread :)

Did you try any of the delaying tactics, or have you already signed away your soul to Ikea?

[6]NO![/6]

encyclo

OK, it's 8.30am, so Macguru should be at work again.

I get to work late after a rough night...

When I got back home yesterday night, I planned to play the spy and have a look at those mags. They where no longuer in the car. I entered "my" invaded home, she was reading them in the living room. She had a notepad with sketches (she is a GFX designer) and notes. After a quick dinner and a shower, I decided to play straight and confront my destiny.

She liked the way I opened negociations.

Macguru - Before you parked you car in my garage with those mags on the driver's seat, how many hints did I miss about your project?

Her - (counting on her fingers with an evil smile) This year?

Macguru - So now it's time for my briefing, right? Ok, I am listening.

I learned she would pay for everything, but had no idea on how much it's going to cost.

Another good thing is her project(s) are reasonable and will look very good at the end.

The main part is the washroom. It was renovated during the 70' and has one of those uncomfortable square baths. I have to strip everything, enlarge the room 6' wider, put a larger window and rebuild it. She has 3 sketches for the bathroom, all with terra cotta tiles and an 'antique' white claw foot bathtub. Some walls will be in knotty pine and others in terra cotta. I like it.

The best part is she is not in a hurry, she wants to start next spring.

So, I capitulated in those terms.
Overall, I think I'm lucky.

I am still in doubt about one thing. Could it be only, phase 1?

um, you should rephrase that too DAMN lucky! ;)

Actually, it seems that you're a pretty good negociator - it's only the bathroom (for the moment - as you say, this is surely only Phase 1), and she's picking up the tab. You agreed unconditionally to all her demands, of course, but that's how the dynamics work in a couple!

Now I have to make sure I get a year break before Phase II. :)

..... Shane

Shane

toooooo late, ha ha haaaaaa .....

I get this strange feeling you are right. Is there some kind of trigger womens in early 30, to just do start doing that, or age has nothing to do with it?