"Honey, maybe instead of me simming to Paris, we could book a trip and go there." 

"Gawd..if I said that to my wife....there would be three suitcases packed, BEFORE I could even get the computer to shut down!".....geez...lol!!!!!

There are invariably two ways to look at any situation, so;-

 

Viewpoint 1

 

It's my life, and I should be able to choose how I spend my free time. I really enjoy this hobby and as I see it, it's better than going out drinking in the pub five nights a week, or spending thousands on an 'expensive' hobby like high end photography, or real aviation.

 

Viewpoint 2

 

The above would apply more as a response to moaning parents, siblings, etc, but if you're in a relationship, clearly a balance has to be struck and we all need to be considerate (assuming we want to keep the relationship!).  So if it's an all out addiction that swallows every free moment, then to loved ones, that is unreasonable.  If it's just that someone (a parent, sibling, friend) doesn't understand the hobby and has no interest in it, and wonders why the heck you spend all this time on it, when it's boring to them, tell them to sling their hook!

 

It's important to do things that make us happy in life, but balance is the key.  Eg for someone at school or college who is neglecting their learning purely to enjoy flight sim, this could seriously affect future opportunities, so it may be necessary to be a bit more disciplined.

Best. Thread. Ever! :-)

Simple - I moved the computer to the Family Room.  *Reduced* the annoyed glares I got for being on the computer, but the computer(s) predate the wife so she tolerates it.  In the past I have used the "At least I am home and not out at a bar" line, and it worked...the first time.

My wife says "What, you still here, no mates tonight?"

 

Haha, that says a lot.. long time married I guess!

 

Mine is pleased I am sitting home at the PC in stead of going to the bar.. works all the time.

I'm single now. Problem solved and I have more $$$ for toys!

 

 

 

Vic

Look sweetheart, I'm just on final approach. Come and watch me land.

 

Ron, never again! She came once, stood behind my back and I crashed.

Well there is no simple answer, I'm having luck that right now 5 years married I've never had this issue, though my wife also spends time in front of her own computer. 

 

The thing is to respect each other, but maybe more probably to find someone that accepts your hobby like I did, I don't have any questions on the money or anything. Though I'm not either doing any kind of full many hours flights, if I really want to do it usually (offline of course), I'll use time acceleration like with PMDG Auto Cruise, or choose short routes. After all at least for me, I have no point in being in front of the screen watching the flight go for hours, while virtually nothing happens, also because in real life, and if I could have become a professional pilot, well the view is something else that we won't really get on our computer even with the currently available technologies, but also you're not alone in the cockpit, so that's making a difference.

 

But really the key to any relationship is just to appreciate each other, and have mutual understanding, nothing is more important, then if you value more your simming time, might be better to be single, or find another girlfriend that can live with this. I don't think there is any other real options on this kind of matters.

I pause the sim, turn and say "You're absolutely right, I sim a lot. I apologize for spending so much time on it, maybe I have a problem. But I'll figure it out in due time. Thanks for caring, I love you." Turn back and and carry on with the flight!

 

Honestly, that was years ago with a different wife than I am with now...my current wonderful wife rarely says a word to me about it. Actually she helps me come up with ideas for a better sim pit!

 

Great thread...

 

Greg G 

I bought my wife an embroidery machine and one of those presses you can make t-shirts with and the software to make designs. Now I'm the one saying "hey get off the computer and spend time with me."

 

Of course I say that knowing she won't and I just keep flying

 

My advice: get her addicted to an in-home hobby too.

My advice: get her addicted to an in-home hobby too.

 

Indeed.  My wife has her own hobbies and passions and I support them.  Funny how she turns around and fully supports mine as well.  Seems pretty simple to me.

 

Scott

My wife has her own hobbies and passions and I support them

 

Mine loves watching films and some series for instance.

So I bought her a 50" Philips UHD TV last year with a Netflix button on the remote.

I guess it was my best flightsim investment so far! 

Mine loves watching films and some series for instance.

So I bought her a 50" Philips UHD TV last year with a Netflix button on the remote.

I guess it was my best flightsim investment so far! 

Exactly my approach and as generally speaking I don't really watch television at all, and she is a TV face, the new curve screen LG works great!

 

But still, I actually fly for a living so she has never quite understood why I come home from a four day trip, and then get on the computer and fly another leg, in the computerised version of the same airplane!

 

A few weeks ago the RL airplane did something odd and I said to the F/O my sim does not do that... now that got a funny stare.

When I purchased the FSL A320, I came home and found my clothes neatly laid out on the front lawn.

Tell her she's right.

 

Then announce you are leaving your computer because you need to get out more.  Then tell her you will be going to a strip club.

 

[Many spousal units actually like having their husbands at home so they can  know what they are up to.  The alternative usually involves other women.]