William K. Taggart wrote:

Snipped  "rolling of the eyes"  and SWMBO's disinterest in
old tools.   Sounds like my wife.

And Bill says:

> I've begun purchasing things in my travels and then when I get home....
> I SNEAK THEM INTO THE HOUSE.

I gotta say:  Me Too!  Why expose yourself to something that
is going to cause negative comments?

And goes on to say:

> Said item(s) then get quickly and quietly as possible deposited in the
> shop somewhere, usually in several somewheres - it's not a good idea to
> have them all appear in the same spot at the same time. If she does
> notice one or two at a later date (which, so far, she has not), then
> it's "What - that? No, I've had that for a while - it's been there for a
> long time. You didn't notice it before? Oh."

I don't have this problem.  My wife doesn't want to enter the pit
I call my workshop.  And when she does, she stays far away from
my working area, but will always make some comment about the
mess I have down there.

And Bill continues:
 She's lost track -
> all she knows is "He's down there playing in that dirty pile of shop
> again..."
>
> Works for me...
>

And it works for me too.

In all fairness, she is pretty tolerant of my affliction.
She now asks if I'm going to the auction, but never asks
what I got.  I do occasionally get something that I figure
she might like - like a Delft pitcher, or an artsy ceramic
piece, or a Nuttings picture for my daughter.

Any attempt to justify my purchases used to be met with
something approaching skepticism - sort of like she was
humoring me by pretending she believed me.  So, since she
apparantly can see right through me, I don't even try.

So, excuses may work, but your wife may be chuckling inside
at your lame attempts to justify your purchases.  Then again,
if the old tools are a source of amusement, maybe it might
work for you.

But for me, I'm with Bill.

Cheers,
Jack