John Step uses the single word that covers everything in a marriage and that word is 'compromise'......and that means coming to decisions that are fair to BOTH parties.
To some, this means TELLING the wife, or partner, you're going to go fishing the next day, but at the same time, failing to LISTEN to the answer or, more importantly, take on board the usually obvious body language which says 'acceptance' under duress or with an air of disinterest....
I can recall, many years ago now, having to sit my wife down to explain the difference between a fisherman and a gardener in terms of time and convenience. To a non fisherperson it's not altogether obvious that the time required to follow the two pastimes are entirely different. Even the simple matter of 'time necessary' isn't obvious, but in the end she could easily see, that whereas she could pop out of the house into the garden for an hour, then pop back in to fill the washing machine, then pop back out into the garden again all through the day, was totally, totally different a fisherman who wants to go out, possibly for the day, in reasonable weather and this after some planning, bait buying etc etc.
All it meant, in the end, was a different approach to all the other jobs that need to be done in the house (which suited us BOTH) and that many times she would wake to find an empty bed (!) or she would be eating an evening meal alone. She could see that it was no different to her being in the garden until sunset engrossed in plants whilst I was in the house also eating a meal alone.....
Most times we have it about right, BUT we still have to compromise all the time around family visits, holidays and the million other things that need doing in the house. The main thing is that we TALK every so often to ensure parity is maintained....
Take the current situation; She has gone to Wigan to see her mum for four days, whilst I, having just had an eye op, am getting back to fishing slowly, slowly...She knew I'd had a hard time around my sight these past months, so she left me t enjoy some free time and a bit of fishing....
Works for us.......................................as I say, MOST of the time, 'cos nothing's perfect!!!