How to win wife's blessing for long hike

imported
#1

Can someone out there tell me how to get wife’s blessings on long distant hiking, like being gone
for a month or longer!!!

CUTTY

#2

If she’s not a hiker, it will be difficult. My husband seemed to be going along with it, but after 4 or 5 weeks, he wasn’t so supportive. I’ll be doing sections for a long time I guess…

Red Hat

#3

That is what you have to address.

There are different reasons for not wanting a spouse to take an extended leave of absence. Financial, various fears, sex, lonliness, jealousy, envy – even if she is not a hiker, she might also like to take a month-long break from all responsibilites and see new sites.

Would you be willing to reciprocate?

Also, how soon are you planning to leave? have you broached the idea before… is this a life-long dream or a spur-of-the moment decision?

Are you sure she wouldn’t give you her blessing?
(:lol sorry, couldn’t resist)

Wild Hare

#4

Try to get her involved in the project. Offer something in return, for instance, a dream trip or time off of her own.

Arrange to meet her on or off the trail periodically.

On my hike, I met the GF in New York and we spent a week hanging out, watching plays, gong to cool restaurants.

Washington DC is a pretty easy trip form the trail as well.

After my hike, I took her to Italy for two weeks.

There are a couple of places along the trail where you can do some "luxurious " camping, staying in cabins or lodges.

Also, you might want to remind her how fit you will be when you finish.

Its a tough sell. Good luck

:pimp

jalan

#5

just divorce her. Think about when you first met her. It was great wasnt it? You thought about her all the time, you couldnt wait to be with her again. touching her felt like electricity. Not so much now huh? now shes just kind of there. sure you say you love each other because thats what married people are supposed to do but there’s no excitment. theres no electricity. you dont crave being with her like when you first met. she could go away on a trip and you would welcome the time apart. and now she is holding you back from your dreams. you have to ask permission to do the things that make you happy. she doesnt understand you. shes not even sympathetic. it gets worse from here. you are getting farther apart every year. someday you will be wrinkled and old and sleeping in different rooms. she will be the old moody hag that complains about how much of your retirement money you spend on medicine. just leave her now while you still have some youth left. enjoy your life while you can. dont let that anchor drag you down. live while you can because its almost over. or you can stay with her while she mocks and rejects your dreams. stay under her thumb if you wish but i think you know what you should do…

doom

#6

I would take my wife on hikes on the AT during the thru hiking season. On one trip she said, “that looks like something that could be fun.” After a couple more of these hikes, she said “I wonder if we could figure a way to do that?” The next thing was taking her to meet J.R. Tate (Model T). Then watch a slide show put on by a wife and husband who did the AT together. Then I got her to reading Bramble and Bushwhack’s journals on Trailjournals, then another couple our age. Before you know it we were working on maildrops!!! It took 3 years, but is was worth it!!!

Papa Smurf

#7

Can someone out there tell me how to get wife’s blessings on long distant hiking, like being gone for a month or longer!!!

Have you asked her yet? What did she say in response?

Dharma

#8

ok here is my problem… my wife wants to hike with me… ok I luv my wife… we have been married over 25 years… I would follow her ass the entire 2175miles. (she has a very cute ass even with backpack…)OK so what is the problem… I want to hike now… I have the dreaded Artheritis (Sp) very bad in the knees… My wife retires in 5 years but I am not sure my knees will hold out that long… I am overweight but working on it… 6’3" was over 300lbs. now about 265… still overweight and hiking is hard on the knees… I luv my wife very very much but I want to go NOW… I am only 46 years old by the way and I know I should allow more time but I really dont want to deal with the what ifs. I have section hiked over 220 miles of the AT but it was only a taste… I want the whole pie

huff & Puff

#9

What are you doing to improve the health of your knees? they could actually be in better shape in 5 years than now, if you start taking care for them.

According to “Prescription for Nutritional Healing” (Phyllis A. Balch) arthritis can be reversible and, in some cases, curable with proper diet and lifestyle changes. These simple changes can not only relieve the inflammation and pain, but stop degeneration and rejuvenate the affected joints.

email me if you’d like more information.

Wild Hare

#10

I am cycling at least 4- 5 times weekly in a spin class…mostly last 1 hour but on Thurs. it is 1.5 hours and Sat it is 2 hours… I am trying to build up stength in surounding areas but it is a degenerative athritus (sp) that eats at the bone

Huff & puff

#11

I left my wife and kids at home in 2004 and Thru Hiked mostly with a female Hiking partner. My wife supported me in my quest but probably reluctantly if the truth be told.

I think Papa Smurf has the idea, it is about education talk about it maybe go to trail fest or trail days together get her to talk to other female hikers let her ask those female questions without you being there to put her mind at rest. be persistant but understand her fears.

or just go drop her plenty of caards and photos in the mail but dont accept any from home (in case shes begging for you to return) then go home if she loves you she will understand if she kicks you out go and do the PCT.

or do as I have done sort out the house, decorate her nest, buy new furniture, dinners and all that other romantic stuff. then slipin the old question “honey can I go hike” it’s worked for me I’m back on the trail next year with her blessing. Mind you it has been costly, but what price FREEDOM. Good Luck.

The General

#12

Mine was the other way, I am the wife and had to leave a husband and family. Talk about hard… He never really did accept it and it caused me grief and I had to get off the trail because of injury. It caused many heartaces and separation. The price of a dream. So think long and hard about it… Make sure it is what you are going to choose if need be. Unlike the General, mine wasn’t a favorable ending!!! So be prepared.FREEDOM is costly in many forms.

nancy

#13

That is really sad… And exactly why I got off early last year. As much as he wanted to accept it, and I wanted him too, it was not something he could do. He is fine with small sections, so that is it for now. Love costs too.

Red Hat

#14

What about planning for her to come for lots of visits?
As you plan out your hike, include her in a bunch of your town stops. Set aside the money for it, highlight road maps with directions, get hotel numbers, etc., and maybe make some plans for what you could do together. (that she’d like to do)- Perhaps this could be somewhat of an “adventure” for her as well!

Perkolady

#15

Don’t be a pussy. Does your wife carry your balls around in her purse?

voice o reason

#16

We did plan the visits but they seemed to only make things worse as then time was spent together and feeling bad about leaving again. Each time he left I had to deal with the same thigs and it wore me down mentally and physically. It was hard enough to concentrate on hiking without those problem. But I saw his point, I just wish it could have worked out so we both could be ok with it.Not everyone is the same though. Hopefully you will make it work, just be aware it may not.:frowning:

Nancy

#17

Whats up General and Grasshopper, whats this about doin it again in 07’ general? You tryin’ to compete w/ Baltimore, you win.

Keytone

#18

I started preparing my husband a year before my hike. I started with, “I sure wish I could hike the AT.” Then, “If I hiked the AT, I would…” To “When I hike the AT, I am…” I’m also blessed with a loving, supportive husband. :slight_smile:

Slow Barbara