>
> Bill said
>
> snip
> "We need to cultivate this art of choosing
> able and willing tool hunting companions.  What's the trick Jim?"
> unsnip
>
> I asked myself the same question when SWMBO returned from an innocent trip
> to the fleamarket with the hands-down, butt-ugliest pair of miserable,
> rusted, cheek-broken, parts-missing, planes I have ever laid eyes on.  She
> was so proud of herself that I didn't have the heart to tell her just how
> useless they are.  Thank goodness they only cost $3 each, but I hope she
> never feels so generous again.
>
> Steve Kroser
> Fort Myers, FL

The real trick is choosing someone who will take some interest in
your interests just because they are _your_ interests, and reciprocating
with her interests.

If you would like a hint from the "other" side ;-)
I had a friend whose husband always brought her a flower when he came
home from work on Friday.  Unfortunately at first it seems he just
grabbed a flower and didn't know how to tell if it was fresh or about
to wilt.  One day they were buying flowers for someone else and she
told him what she was looking at while she picked out the stems.  Seems
she hadn't gotten an instant-wilt flower since....

I suggest planning a trip to any sort of antique mall where you know
there will be tools but the owner isn't right there and inspecting the
tools out loud, espcially for basic stuff like cracks or kinks in saws
or woodies that are warped when you sight down their soles.  The trip
is not to buy something although you might, but to spend some quality
time and gently transfer some information.  If she is into anything
particularly watch out for her doing likewise ;-)  ;-)

Esther eoh@k...