Interesting Arrangement

[farmaholic]

Well you didn’t woo your wife with cows... unless she really wanted to help them!

......what!?!?!?!?!

[Maver]

I’m not saying I agree with the split down the middle idea. There’s no reason a woman should marry into a farming family and be entitled to a half or even a quarter of assets. Prenups should be an absolute for everyone in my mind, no matter their careers.

BUT

If and when I were to get married, what’s expected? I have a job. I’m currently working towards my own acreage. I have a herd of cattle, a flock of chickens, a hassle of barn cats, etc. So I decide I want to spend my life with a man, now what?

I move.

Hopefully we’d work together to try and fit my life in with his but I still have a life’s worth of stuff. Something is going to give. I’ll lose possessions because they can’t all fit in one house. I may be moving far enough I can’t keep my job. Some, or all of, my animals may have to go. I may be even moving out of my local community where I know people and where my friends are.

The man is rarely the one, especially in farming scenarios, who disrupts his life and moves. Yeah it can be managed to rent out my place, or sell it. Yeah there’s ways to work it out. But it’s still an overwhelming scenario. I’m not sure men ever really think of that part. Even in a well oiled partnership, a woman is usually giving up a lot to get there, and not just monetary possessions.

Just apply it to yourselves right now. A quick what if scenario. What if you met someone and had to move to her, how much would you be giving up and relying on her.

Then there’s the awful situations of things going down the shitter. I’ve had friends on that precipice and the biggest thing that stops it, is how can they do it? They’re moms, they’ve had no job for years because they’re at home raising the kids. I don’t know their bank situations but even if stuff isn’t a joint account, they haven’t worked much, they have little to no money. How the heck can they leave?! What’s rent these days. What’s their vehicle and it’s payments. Who’s going to hire them, most employers don’t like big gaps in resumes, so they’re stuck at minimum wage. What’s the childcare costs. Sitting there trying to figure this stuff out is also hugely overwhelming.

A woman gives up a lot and then faces an enormous obstacle to leave if it comes down to that.

No, that doesn’t mean we are entitled to half of millions of dollars of assets, but we are usually the ones who have given up our life and shaped it to the man. Is it any wonder when faced with losing that relationship it’s called starting life over. Many of us need too.

Nobody wants to go into a relationship or marriage being pessimistic but there needs to be some reality. Separation is costly for both sides, no matter what.

Great post.
You mentioned a woman being unable to leave. I'm sure there are a few farmers unable to get divorced. For fear of getting cleaned out by their spouse, and losing the farm.

[Blaithin]

I’m sure there is.

Easy to say from a non emotionally involved standpoint, but if people could just act like adults and not be set on revenge or lashing out I’m sure there would be a lot less angry fights over who gets what and who deserves what and who has a right to what.

Rights are funny things. Everyone tends to think that they’re right and all rights are theirs.

Then again I could just not be cynical enough. Maybe there are just that many people in the world who consider it a goal to get out of a relationship and take as much as they can with them.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Separation is costly for both sides, no matter what.

Jordan Peterson has an eye opener of a video on separation, and the realities that too many people face. A lot of real life lessons that need to be taught to our young people.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Well you didn’t woo your wife with cows... unless she really wanted to help them!

Not certain that I have any other redeeming features, so the only conclusion I can come to is that it must have been the cows.
A neighbor lady went to volunteer in an orphanage in I think Mali Africa, when the locals learned that she had 40 (I forget how many, more than 10, less than 50) cows of her own, they were in awe of her massive wealth. I believe she got some marriage proposals... everything is relative.

[Blaithin]

Maybe you have a nice nose. Nobody would want to pass a terrible nose onto their children.

Then again I’ve been told ankles are something to look at?

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Great post.
You mentioned a woman being unable to leave. I'm sure there are a few farmers unable to get divorced. For fear of getting cleaned out by their spouse, and losing the farm.

And how many relationships could include suggested, or real extortion when both parties know the outcome.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Maybe you have a nice nose. Nobody would want to pass a terrible nose onto their children.

Then again I’ve been told ankles are something to look at?

Flattery will get you nowhere...
Actually, her two criteria were that her husband neededto be taller than her and able to carry her. Most failed on the first Count. I must have swept her off her feet on the second count.


Realistically, probably had more to do with pity and sympathy...

[Blaithin]

Flattery will get you nowhere...
Actually, her two criteria were that her husband neededto be taller than her and able to carry her. Most failed on the first Count. I must have swept her off her feet on the second count.


Realistically, probably had more to do with pity and sympathy...

I hope your cows don’t look like Farmas too inspire pity and sympathy!

Would’ve said height was a criteria over nose, because it usually is, but it’s also the criteria that most guys seem to dislike the most 😆

[woodland]

[ATTACH]6193[/ATTACH]

My Ghetto cows to "buy in".....

Boy things really are slim pickin’s down south. 😉

[tweety]

Assets win, is the trend, why the poor stay poor and the rich get richer. A govt check will never lead you to riches.

Tell that to Air Canada or Bombardier.

[sumdumguy]

That sounds like a personal ad, aimed at every farmer ever. Please send pictures of chickens and cows...

Thanks for adding the view from the other perspective. I get reminded regularly of the sacrifices my wife made by moving half was around the world, and giving up a world class career and a business, to chase cows and raise kids in the middle of nowhere with perpetual winter.

Albertafarmer! How dare you?

[sumdumguy]

Gone are the days of, “til death do us part”. Some people started with nothing, $700 donated at the wedding, maybe a little seed from dad. They made it. In our 375 pop village, splitting was unheard-of. I like it that way. This new world is too stressful.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Boy things really are slim pickin’s down south. 😉

Farma, If that is what you are bringing to offer as a dowry, I am hoping that you must have some other .. um.. assets.. to compensate for What you are lacking in the livestock department.
Otherwise you might find there to be slim pickings in the potential bride selection as well

[farmaholic]

Farma, If that is what you are bringing to offer as a dowry, I am hoping that you must have some other .. um.. assets.. to compensate for What you are lacking in the livestock department.
Otherwise you might find there to be slim pickings in the potential bride selection as well

In some countries having three cows like that would be like Scotiabank's jingle:

"You're richer than you think"

The rest of the attraction would be my stellar personality, wit, kindness and charm.....

I'm changing my AV username to "Charmaholic".

We'll leave my physical attributes and or shortcomings for another day....