Allowing your spouse the financial freedom to pursue a hobby

For many years, Terry told me I needed some sort of hobby or side project to distract my mind from the day-to-day grind of work and family.

I finally took her up on it late last year when I got back into playing the saxophone. I practice almost every day and really enjoy it.

But it is not an inexpensive pursuit.

Since Christmas she has allowed me to buy:

• The best tenor sax I've ever owned ($2,000)
• A new mouthpiece for it ($325)
• Reeds (an ongoing expense that so far has totaled maybe 50 bucks)
• Various instructional books as suggested by my teacher Ed (well over $100)
• A new neck strap ($12)
• Accessories that include a reed case, swabs to clean the mouthpiece/neck/body, and other items I'm probably not even considering at the moment (again, probably $100 or more)

Granted, much of this comes from "extra" money we've recently gleaned from various sources. But still, we have a mortgage, kids, etc. As CFO of the family, it was well within her right to veto any of these purchases.

Yet she let them all go, because she's wonderful.

You can't put a price on your partner's happiness. Despite what I consider to be slow progress in my playing, the sax is a source of contentment for me.

As far as I'm concerned, Terry can do whatever she wants for herself, whether it's related to crafting or any other hobby she wants to take up.

Having to listen to me squeak out diminished 7th arpeggios and scales for hours on end has earned her at least that much.