Who could guess that marriage would come with a monthly subscription to one’s husband’s whims? Carter seemed perfect when we were dating — kind, funny, and adventurous. But after our wedding last November, I discovered a side of him I hadn’t seen before.
A man and woman kiss during their wedding ceremony | Source: Pexels
It started with gourmet cooking. One day, Carter burst into our apartment, eyes shining with excitement.
“Abby, you won’t believe what I found!” he exclaimed, dumping a pile of packages on our coffee table.
I raised an eyebrow. “What’s all this?”
“The key to becoming a master chef!” He started unpacking fancy knives, gadgets I couldn’t name, and jars of spices I’d never heard of.
“How much did this cost?” I asked, trying to keep the worry out of my voice.
Carter waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. It’s an investment in our future gourmet meals!”
A man prepares to cook with a variety of foodstuffs and utensils | Source: Pexels
I should’ve known then that this was just the beginning.
Weeks passed, and our kitchen turned into a maze of unused equipment. Carter talked endlessly about sous-vide techniques and molecular gastronomy, but he never actually cooked anything.
One evening, as I microwaved another frozen dinner, I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Carter, when are you going to use all this stuff?”
He looked up from his phone, where he was researching the latest cooking trend. “Soon, babe. I’m just perfecting my techniques first.”
A man holds a cell phone with a picture of food preparation displayed | Source: Pexels
I sighed, knowing “soon” probably meant “never.”
Just as the cooking obsession faded, Christmas rolled around. I came home from work to find Carter surrounded by boxes and tubes.
“What’s all this?” I asked, dreading the answer.
“We’re gonna be brewmasters!” Carter announced, holding up a shiny copper contraption.
I felt my stomach sink. “How much did this cost?”
“Don’t worry, I used your Christmas bonus,” he said casually.
“You what?” I sputtered, but he was already deep into explaining the fermentation process.
A woman in a kitchen reacts angrily | Source: Pexels
The brewing equipment joined the cooking gadgets in our increasingly cluttered apartment. I watched my savings dwindle as Carter’s hobbies multiplied.
Tax season arrived, and with it, Carter’s newest fixation — astronomy.
“Abby, look at this telescope!” He shoved his phone in my face, showing me a sleek, expensive-looking device.
I took a deep breath. “Carter, we can’t afford that.”
“But it’s my one true desire,” he pleaded. “Can’t we use your tax refund?”
Against my better judgment, I gave in. The telescope arrived, was used once, and then joined the graveyard of forgotten hobbies.
A man outdoors with a telescope set up nearby | Source: Pexels
As the months passed, I found myself struggling to keep up with our bills. One night, after paying yet another credit card statement, I decided to broach the subject.
“Carter, we need to talk about our finances,” I said carefully.
He looked up from his latest hobby magazine. “What about them?”
“I’m covering all the utilities, groceries, and most of the rent. It’s getting hard to keep up.”
Carter frowned. “You need to save your money better, Abby. I pay half the rent, don’t I?”
I bit back a retort, realizing this conversation wasn’t going anywhere.
A man and woman at loggerheads in the living room | Source: Midjourney
The final straw came when Carter announced his newest hobby — drones. Our living room turned into a chaotic mess of half-assembled gadgets.
One evening, as I navigated through the drone parts scattered across the floor, Carter approached me with a gleam in his eye.
“Abby, I found the perfect drone! It’s top-of-the-line, with amazing features. Can we get it?”
I looked at him incredulously. “Carter, we can’t afford another expensive hobby.”
“But this one’s different,” he insisted. “I’ll really stick with it this time.”
Something inside me snapped. “No, Carter. Enough is enough.”
A woman in a living room, looking very angry | Source: Midjourney
His face fell, but I stood my ground. For once, I needed to prioritize our financial stability — and my sanity.
As luck would have it, a few days later, I received some unexpected news at work. My boss called me into her office, a smile on her face.
“Abigail, we’re giving you a bonus for your hard work during the restructuring,” she announced.
I felt a wave of relief wash over me. “Thank you so much. This means a lot.”
A well-dressed woman in an office setting, talking to an older woman | Source: Midjourney
As I left her office, a thought struck me. For once, I wasn’t going to let this money disappear into one of Carter’s hobbies.
That night, I made a decision. I quietly transferred the bonus into a separate savings account and started planning something I hadn’t done in years — a vacation for myself.
I found a beautiful beach resort, booked a week-long stay, and for the first time in months, felt genuinely excited about something.
The day before my trip, I finally told Carter. His reaction was exactly what I’d feared.
“You’re going on vacation? Alone?” he asked, his voice rising. “How could you be so selfish?”
A miserable-looking man in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
I took a deep breath. “Carter, I’ve been paying for everything. I deserve this break.”
“But what about my new drone?” he demanded. “I thought we’d use that money for it!”
“No, Carter. This time, I’m putting myself first.”
As I packed my bags, ignoring Carter’s sulking, I felt a little guilty but also liberated. Was I being selfish? Maybe. But for once, I needed to prioritize my own happiness.
A woman packing a suitcase in the bedroom | Source: Midjourney
The moment I stepped onto the beach, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. The sound of waves crashing against the shore drowned out the voice in my head that usually worried about bills and Carter’s next hobby.
I spent my days lounging on the sand, reading books I’d been meaning to get to for years, and actually relaxing. No drone parts to trip over, no half-finished brewing experiments taking up space.
A woman lounging on a beach | Source: Pexels
One evening, as I watched the sunset paint the sky in brilliant oranges and pinks, I had a realization. This vacation wasn’t just about escaping Carter’s hobbies — it was about rediscovering myself.
I thought back to the early days of our relationship when Carter’s enthusiasm was charming rather than draining. Where had we gone wrong?
As I sipped a cocktail, I made a mental list of all the things we needed to discuss when I got home. Our finances, the division of household responsibilities, and most importantly, our communication.
A woman enjoying a cocktail in a deckchair | Source: Pexels
My phone buzzed with a text from Carter: “Hope you’re having fun. Miss you.”
I smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope. Maybe this time apart was good for both of us.
The next day, I decided to try something new. I signed up for a beachside yoga class, something I’d always wanted to do but never found the time for.
As I stretched and breathed with the ocean breeze on my skin, I felt a sense of peace I hadn’t experienced in years. I realized that I had been so focused on Carter’s hobbies that I had neglected my own interests.
A woman stretching upwards in the sunset | Source: Pexels
After the class, I struck up a conversation with another participant, a woman named Lisa who was also on a solo vacation.
“It’s my first time traveling alone,” I admitted to her.
Lisa smiled knowingly. “Sometimes we need to step away to see things clearly. What brought you here?”
I found myself pouring out the whole story — Carter’s endless hobbies, the financial strain, my growing resentment.
“Honey,” Lisa said, patting my hand, “you did the right thing. Sometimes we need to put ourselves first to be better partners.”
Two women enjoying a yoga session on a beach | Source: Pexels
Her words stuck with me for the rest of the trip. I spent the remaining days trying new things — paddleboarding, a cooking class (ironically), and even a salsa dancing lesson. Each activity reminded me of the person I used to be before I lost myself in Carter’s whims.
As my vacation came to an end, I felt recharged and ready to face whatever waited for me at home. I knew things with Carter wouldn’t magically fix themselves, but I had a new perspective and determination.
A woman wheeling a suitcase towards the end of a jetty | Source: Pexels
Boarding the plane home, I clutched my bag of souvenirs — small reminders of the peace I’d found. Whatever happened next, I knew one thing for sure: sometimes, you need to put yourself first to find balance in life.
The flight attendant’s voice crackled over the intercom: “We’re beginning our descent. Please fasten your seatbelts.”
I took a deep breath, ready to face whatever awaited me at home. As the plane touched down, I couldn’t help but wonder: would Carter understand my need for this break, or would I be coming home to another hobby-fueled disaster?
A woman looking contemplatively out of an airplane window | Source: Midjourney
Only time would tell. But for now, I felt stronger and more centered than I had in months. Whatever challenges lay ahead, I was ready to face them — one step at a time.
As I walked through the airport, I spotted Carter waiting for me. His expression was a mix of sheepishness and anticipation.
“Abby,” he said, pulling me into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re back. I… I’ve done some thinking while you were gone.”
I raised an eyebrow, curious but cautious. “Oh?”
A woman and man encountering each other in an airport terminal | Source: Midjourney
He nodded, looking more serious than I’d seen him in months. “I realized how selfish I’ve been. I want to talk — really talk — about everything. If you’re willing.”
As we walked to the car, hand in hand, I felt a spark of hope. Maybe this vacation had been exactly what we both needed to find our way back to each other.
The journey ahead wouldn’t be easy, but for the first time in a long while, I was looking forward to the future — hobby-free and full of possibility.
A couple walking hand-in-hand through an airport terminal | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done? If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you about a husband who spent every weekend in his garage, and his wife was shocked to find out why.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
