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Estate sale is not a word I like to hear. This means there is about a 25 percent chance we are going to buy something I don’t want and something I don’t think we need.

The term “estate sale” to Marilyn is equivalent to a University of Kentucky football game for me. To be fair to Marilyn, she has been to a lot more football games than she has had estate sales.

Last week, thanks to an estate sale, I learned the term “highboy.” According to AI, it is “a chest of drawers with a legged base, often made of two pieces stacked vertically…The name comes from the French words haute (high) and bois (wood).”

Marilyn called to let me know there was a great deal on a highboy and that she absolutely hated the dresser in the bedroom. As each day goes by in the estate sale, the price goes down by 25 percent. We agreed that, if it had not sold by the next day, it hit that price point where we’d both be OK with it.

I remembered the advice I was given years ago. “If your wife wants it and you can afford it, as a general rule, buy it.” Now, obviously this advice wouldn’t work for a shopaholic or materialistic spouse, but for Marilyn (who is frugal) it works.

So, I learned what a highboy is and now own a highboy. It was good for our marriage and, according to Marilyn, good for the ascetics of the bedroom.

The point is: First, try to consider the interests of others above your own. Second, if it is important to your spouse, try to make it important to you. Marilyn goes to football games and I’m a highboy owner. Third, without being financially irresponsible, be generous with each other in marriage.

 

  • Embrace New Experiences Together: Take the time to explore new interests that matter to your partner. Whether it’s attending estate sales, playing a game of pickleball, or trying something completely new, these shared experiences can strengthen your bond.
  • Prioritize Each Other’s Happiness: Make an effort to understand and support what makes your partner happy, even if it’s outside your usual interests. This could mean being open to buying that highboy or getting involved in your partner’s hobbies. Small acts of consideration can lead to a happier and more harmonious relationship.