How does your spouse/partner/family feel about your interest in stoves?

Good luck.

 

It's a mixed bag, for the first time in a long time, someone had something really positive to say about my stoves (and hobbies in general), and it both shocked, and delighted me. I really wasn't expecting someone to be as happy as I was about one of my interests so it took me a minute to process it.

My aunt saw my svea 123r and told me of how it reminded me of her father. How he had this unique brass, alcohol fueled contraption for roasting his own coffee beans. She said most people just roasted their beans over the kitchen stove, but he had this old antique, and this convoluted method for roasting his. She said he enjoyed the brass contraption more than the coffee, and it was very peculiar to her. She said he also spent a lot of his time in these odd stores that sold odd things, and I was reminding her of him. It really struck a cord with me.

I'd say this was a very out-of-the ordinary situation, as I feel in general, most people don't share the same excitement about these things as I do. My girlfriend saw my old pakcook 235 for the first time and her first question was "how much was that?" And I had to explain, almost justify to her how I've had it for years and years, and that I really didn't spend a lot on it. It didn't feel that good. I have other interests besides stoves, (my beryllium metal collection for example) but they seem to all follow a trend in which I enjoy the things I do, and don't really share them with others because I "know" they won't share the excitement that I have, and it disappoints me in a way.

I built an anthracite stove for winter camping, and my girlfriend was thrilled because it kept us warm on a cold winter night, and that makes me happy, but at the end of the day, I still feel like I have to find a good enough reason for the things that I do in order justify them.

But again, it reminds me of my grandfather, I don't care about the coffee beans, I care about the thing that made them so good. And it's tough to find others that share the same feeling

 

My wife doesn't complain about my stoves and I try not to complain about all the crap she accumulates.

Ben

 

Howdy, All,

This thread if very interesting. What good wife would dump her husband's stoves when he wasn't around!?!?? But, to be honest, I saw that same kind of scenario right here in So. Cal, once. We were having a CASG Mini Meet at the home of one of our members, and his wife made no bones about the fact that she hated his stove collection, and also his gun collection! She said, and I quote, "If you drop dead tomorrow, the first thing I'm going to do, is have someone move your gun safe, and all your stoves out to the curb"!! This fellow told his sons, "If you want any inheritance, you'd better keep Mom away from my stuff"! Not long thereafter, he pulled the eject cord, and divorced her. Good riddance, sez I!! What a shrew!! I thought this gal was joking, when she said that, but she was dead serious!! Sheesh!!

Sweet Bride fully supports my stove addiction, er, I mean, collection! In fact, she considers several of my stoves to be HERS! Flivver's old Clayton and Lambert #3 is a prime example. All it took was cooking on it one time, and it was instantly "hers"! She also loves the Glenwood Camp Cooker, and it's Blue Bird oven, and has created some outstandingly delicious offerings in that wonderful pair!

And, yes, not only is this hobby about stoves, but even more so, it's about people and friends! I've met quite a few of our CCS Stovie members, and have yet to find one that I didn't like! Ross has been up to our mountain home, as have Arch and Mrs Arch. We've met up with Ed and his wife a couple of times, and once, I drove to Phoenix, AZ to meet Ed for breakfast, because he was "close enough for Government work", and I didn't want to miss seeing him again! We happily met up with Ian M, and Mr M, when we were working in the UK! We had a fine time! And, we were blessed to spend a day with Pau and Mrs Pau, when working in Barcelona, Spain! Great folks, the both of them! Met up with Jur, who rode his motorcycle from Rotterdam, to meet us in Amsterdam! We've spent time with Mr and Mrs Snwcmpr, as well as the Flivver family, NordicThug, Big Jim Henderson, HikerDuane, Rob and Anne, from NZ, and Mr and Mrs TrojanDog, from the UK! We've met up with CWO Lance quite a few times, over the years, and each time was a hoot! Add in Dag Ståle, who has stayed here at our home, and Arne Kåre (twice), both from Norway, Ulysses, Hikin' Jim, RonPH, BernieDawg, Ben (z1ulike) , BajaBum, and Mrs Baja, speedskate tim, Matukat, Hunterbug, and SO many others of our CCS members, and yes, indeed: It's about meeting people who become good friends!

I'm am certain that I've left folks off of this list, and please accept my sincere apology for that. But suffice it to say, we've made some lifelong friends from our membership here at CCS!! I have photos of all of them, during our meetings! So, stoves, yes.... But, people..... there is the real treasure of it! Take care, and God Bless!

Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc (Blessed with more friends, than stoves..... and THAT is saying something!!)

 

+1 to what Doc said.

I had to think about it, but many years ago, Mrs. Mac gave me a puzzled look one day and asked, “How many stoves do you need?” Of course, there’s no answer to that question if you are collecting.

Since then, she’s been fine with it, found me a display case (it’s in our living room), and has found a couple of great stoves for me (including our LF&C Universal No.0 that she spotted a year or so ago).

She has really enjoyed the stovie get-togethers we’ve had over the years, and considers all of us to be great friends (even you oddballs).

I feel very fortunate and grateful for her support and companionship. We’ll be celebrating 42 years together, next month.

….Arch

 

None of our clothes in this house ever see an iron - after years of ironing shirts for my white collar job I get a perverse satisfaction out of that.

My Mrs doesn't trust a man without a hobby. Having several I'm safe.

 

Hi, my wife accept the fact that I collect stoves ,no problem.But, I have to build a lot of bookshelves for her collection of books

Cooleman(expert in bookshelves)

 

This is a perennial topic on many hobby or collecting forums. The best consensus about this that I think I've seen comes from the wives themselves - #1, they know where to find you when needed - out in the garage, or in the basement, tinkering. Not out (for example) chasing tail at the bar. #2, see #1

 

She tells me she's going to call the Fire Department on me when I'm brewing a cup inside the house (with windows open) calls me nuts and tells me their "OUTDOOR STOVES"
Ahhhh...26 years of heavenly bliss

 

I only have double the number of stoves as my wife does coats, if you add jeans to her total she is way ahead!
I can light 2 or three stoves at once, you can only where one pair of jeans or a coat at a time …so no argument?