Getting iritated

After a ten year spell of just my son and I in this house, I have started a new relationship this year. I am trying to adjust to dealing with another being in the house and having a few rough spots. I have a huge model car collection, mostly unbuilt. So there are boxes of models around the house. She makes a point of reminding me how many are in each room. I can not move them out to the garage as it is unheated and they would be ruined out there. I have asked her a few times what she wants and she does not respond. I get the feeling she wants them all gone. Same with magazines. I read a lot about cars and have magazines around to read, next to the bed, next to my chair, in the bathroom, etc.. She keeps moving them all to one place so I have to go hunting for the one I was reading and set down for a few minutes. Maybe I am reading this all wrong, I was so used to the "bachelor" decor that the feminine touch is now getting on my nerves? I am not sure what to do at this point. Just getting this written helps some. Sorry to bother you all.

Dear Randj,

You are not a bother. When two grown adults live together, there are definitely going to be differences and when one gets older, sometimes we become set in our ways. Have you had a dialog with your significant other? It sounds like she just wants to "tidy" up the place a bit, but conversation is the most important way to find out what she is thinking, wants. Please sit down with her and ask her how she sees the house being considering you have a nice collection that need to be kept in a heated environment. Maybe you could clean out a closet or area to keep the boxes. Perhaps you could keep your magazine collection in one spot and just leave out the magazines that you are presently reading. Communication is the key! Good Luck and I will be sending kind thoughts your way.

Slick

How long have the two of you been living together. She needs to understand that she moved into YOUR house and she cant make you change everything. Fair enough if it looks a little messy then try and keep it clean but shes also trying to change you. Thats the way you are and she doesnt have a right to move in and try and make the place how she wants it. Its your house you shouldnt have to get rid of the things you love just to make her happy. Have you sat down and talked to her about this? Maxbe you could move all your cars and magazines to one room and tell her shes not aloud to mess with then because its your little place of zen lol hope you two work out the problem soon. Good luck. Sorry if i wasnt much help. I know how annoying it is when people cant leave your stuff alone!

I guess it is time to reduce the kits. More here than I could ever build in my lifetime. I have several closets full plus the spare bedroom. Would like to get her interested in models but she is not a car person.
The magazines issue will have to be worked out. I keep them and read them over and over again. Also refer back to the "how to" sections a lot. Going to have to think about this a bit.
Thanks for the input!

Theres no harm in asking her if she would like to help you build one of your models. Just because she doesnt like cars doesnt mean she wont enjoy helping to make one with you. Its worth a shot if you ask me and if she just so happens to enjoy making them with you its quality time together plus she might get off your back about having so many lol. Good luck!

I think your complaints are valid because it has been your space for so long and no someone new is attempting to change that. I think change in general is hard for all of us because it can make us feel out of control. Hang in there and maybe you can compromise.