What would you do...

[RedRocker]

My wife and I were just tickled to death to finally get gravel for our drive and we could only afford to do half of it so far.
I was bound and determined to have a "big 3" tractor in the beginning. A friend on here suggested some other brands to look at and I couldn't be any happier with my choice. It was the difference for me between having a tractor or not.

 

[rayh76]

Hello TBN! This is my first post! I have been reading here for some time and have recently bought a Case DX40.

Ok, for my first post as a newbie...BUY THE TRACTOR! This topic has forced me to finally register and give my opinion.

First, you live on a gravel road it looks like according to your pictures. Gravel drives are fine! They just need maintenance. Promise your wife that you will get the roundup out and keep the weeds/grass killed that come up. Use your new tractor to grade the rocks and keep them looking alive and fresh! I thought your driveway looked good from what I could see. THEN promise the wife that you will put a border up along the driveway. This will keep the gravel and grass separate. You could put a 4"x4"x12" or so stone border that will look awesome. I think this would be a good compromise.

I have an asphalt driveway. It needs maintenance. Grass and weeds do grow between the cracks and looks bad....I use roundup so I don't have a redneck asphalt driveway.

Ray

 

[rebuilder]

You could pave the whole 7 acres, paint it green and be done with it. No need for a tractor and no grass to cut.

 

[VA_Joe]

This whole thing sounds like a lose-lose situation. You either keep the wife happy (and lose the tractor) or you get the tractor and lose domestic tranquility. I'm glad to not be in your shoes. Good luck with the decision.

Joe

 

[rebuilder]

I think YOU need to buy a tractor and SHE needs to pave the driveway. There's nothing wrong with you each having your own ambitions and working toward building your lives the way you'd each like them. Being married means you do a lot together, but it doesn't mean you cease to exist as individuals. So long as neither of you have any major objections to what the other is doing, and that appears to be the case, you each have the opportunity to accomplish your goals. Money, no matter how much there is, is the number one cause of divorce. So the answer is simple, you do with your money as you'd "like" and she does with hers as she'd "like". It may take a little longer to get the tractor or the paved driveway, but you'll both be happier in the end because you achieved a goal. Buy the groceries out of the common fund, but buy the "extras" separately if you need to. It'll take a little working out, but it's worth it.

Besides, I see you get some snow and you'll need that tractor to keep the paved driveway plowed.

 

[Coyote]

Buy used, you can save big bucks. Tractors are built to last many years/hours!

 

[jbrumberg]

We are in a just developing subdivision, with some established homes in the surrounding areas.. Most of the older homes have gravel... There are only 2 completed houses immediately around us and they both have paved drives (sorta setting the standard)....the snakes were away... Brian

Brian:

I hate it when "uppity" neighbors set standards for the rest of us . I guess I became the uppity neighbor when I gravelled my driveway . If I was you I would "work" the snake factor . Work the Snakes!! Work the Snakes!! One reason why we were able to buy our house and property so cheaply was because of all the snakes. I still have the original For Sale sign somewhere that was dropped by the first real estate agent (before multi-listed) due those "awful" snakes . You cannot kill your "leverage". I go real slow to allow them to get out of the way when mowing, hogging, and string trimming. Unfortunately every now and then I do create snake tartare . Jay

 

[Lucky1]

Have wife get a part time job to pay for the new driveway,tell her to hurry,tell her driving on the gravel drive is hard on your new tractor tires.

 

[irwin]

I always go by the rule that "It's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission".

This is very close to my thinking on many, important to me, issues. However I usually have an idea of what direction the wind is blowing.. although I do get it wrong sometimes

 

[jbrumberg]

This is very close to my thinking on many, important to me, issues. However I usually have an idea of what direction the wind is blowing.. although I do get it wrong sometimes

irwin:

If I am not distracting myself with tractor stuff I distract myself with sailing. A quote comes to mind -"You can't change the wind, but you can adjust your sails".
You really have to expand the repertoire of coping mechanisms when it comes to tractor and/or attachment acquisition. Every "She Who Must Be Obeyed/Comptroller" needs to be "finessed" and they are all unique individuals. What works for one will not work for another. With my wife whining, pouting, or superficial "data" does not work. She likes grovelling and kowtowing as well as dinner out over time better. Jay