I need your help. As you may know, my birthday and Andrew’s are only days apart, which means he turns 40, three days ahead of me, in about a week.
I need advice on a present for him. The first year we were together, I gave him a day pass to Whistler. I came up with the idea myself, he hadn’t hinted at it, and I wrapped it up with a card that said something like “What I want to give you more than anything is happiness, and I know how happy being on the mountain makes you. I hope that when you use this pass you are filled with happiness and maybe, just maybe, think of me.”
I’m awesome.
It was such a big hit that I gave him the same gift last year, even though it felt like a bit of a cop-out to get him the same gift two years in a row. But he loved it.
And so now, it’s his birthday in a week again. His 40th birthday. I’ve asked him what he wants and he said, unsurprisingly, “ski passes”. I want to get him what he wants, but I also want to make this birthday special, and I don’t want to give him the same present every year for the rest of his life.
Another idea I had was to get him a Bluetooth headset for his phone. He is in his truck, speaking to clients, all day long. Early next year a law will come into affect making cell phone use illegal while driving, except with a headset.
I know this would make a crazily un-sexy gift, but I also know he will HATE to part with the money to buy one himself.
If I was a lesbian and had a girlfriend, I would know, for certain, not to buy this for my partner as a birthday gift. Practical is not what we chicks want in a birthday present.
But what about men? Would he appreciate not having to spend his own money on a head-set? Could it be seen as a new toy? What about the fact that I’d be buying him the gift of “No Tickets” and “No Jail” and maybe even “Not Dying”?
As I write this, I’m leaning towards maybe giving him this as a Christmas present, instead of a 40th birthday present. But that leaves the question of what to get him for his birthday open.
Help me! Men – are practical gifts appreciated or lame? Women – what have you bought your significant others lately that they really loved?
Any help would be appreciated – thank you in advance!
I just asked my resident man and he said “it depends on his personality.” After I groaned and threw my slipper at his head, he elaborated and said that if it were him, he wouldn’t mind the practical (Bluetooth) gift because it would free up his money to buy “toys.” However, he also said it would depend on Andrew’s thoughts regarding birthdays/Christmas (read: are they meant for the things he wouldn’t normally buy himself, or for practical gifts?). He also asked if Andrew skis often and if this might be one of a few times he might get to go?
For me, personally, my birthday is usually meant for practical gifts and Christmas is meant for frivolous and fun stuff; as such, that’s how I tend to shop. However, much as you said, if I was given a vacuum cleaner for my 40th birthday, well… I think we both know how THAT would end. ;) I would say Bluetooth for Christmas and… gah, I don’t know for his birthday! If he’s unwilling to give you any other ideas, go with the ski pass.
Sorry I (and/or my man-thing) couldn’t be more definitive!
Holy jeez, a comment AND research! Thank you!
Interesting, re: how he views birthdays. I think maybe he does see them for things he wouldn’t buy himself vs. practical gifts, but I’ll try to hint about that a bit more in the next few days.
Funnily enough, I think I see them backwards to the way you do. UNFOLLOW. (So kidding!). I would like a little extravagance on my birthday, but am perfectly happy with Christmas gifts being practical. Not sure why.
Maybe I’ll get him one Whistler pass (he boards, and no – not often, because he is a mountain snob and will only go to Whistler/Blackcomb and not the local mountains – and we live in North Van, for pete’s sake) and maybe try to come up with something else “meaningful” to go with it, instead of two passes (which is what I did last year because I was totally stumped).
Thanks for the help!
Case of beer, blow job, lift ticket. Special.
Ha, Pete! That’s a standard line of mine too.
Two votes for lift ticket – this helps, thanks!