F^4 What does your spouse think of you playing civ? What does (s)he do while U play?

[King Of America]

My wife also hates the game, but after we read Women are from Venus, Men are from Mars, she tolerates it. I try to encourage her to call a friend while I play (right out of the book, in its own way).

Orna, our five-year girl thinks it's boring except for when I "talk to the faces" (diplomacy). But she knows to go to the computer room first if she wants a drink in the middle of the night.

Orna did inadvertantly give me extra time to play--she talked us into getting her a dog and since I don't like dogs, my wife takes the pooch out for 45-minute walks at night.

 

[Phaedria]

My husband tolerates my playing. Oncer the kids are in bed and the chores are done he likes to watch the sport/listen to loud tuneless music on his headphones etc. My presence would be a distraction so he's quite happy for me to 'go and play on that computer'. He has absolutely no understanding if why I find it so compelling - but hey I dont understand football!

Our 4 year old son finds the gamefascinating - he always wants me to fight and he likes watching the palace get built

I do think Civ addiction is a bit detrimental to family life so I make a big effort to only play when everyone els is asleep/occupied. No football on the telly in the summer means that I havent even STARTED GOTM Spain yet... Heh ho!

Phaedria

 

[Nightfa11]

My wife and I play sometimes together. We like to play the world map next to each other in North America and take over the world!!!!

For GOTM and stuff, she doesn't mind, I play in the living room (laptop) while watching TV

 

[PattonTwo]

Same response from my wife on most occasions.

However, a few months ago a friend gave me a great idea.

On some of my games, I give my capital her name. Then the next few cities are named after our kids and family/friends. It usually gets a good laugh and for some reason she's more accepting of it...

Unless she finds me in the computer room at 2 am after we went to bed together at 10! Then I'm REALLY in trouble.

 

[danchamp]

My wife tolerates my gaming habit, and notices enough what I'm doing to prefer me playing Civ to GTA or Counter-Strike. She also has her own PC in our study and surfs the net some evenings while I play.

She got a horse last year so that takes her out for a couple of hours most evenings, leaving me to listen out for the wean, amuse the dogs (a handful of hide chews does the trick), and play Civ

I do need to moderate my own play though. Sitting in front of a PC at work all day and then coming home for a 5 hour session does seem like overdoing it sometimes, especially when the sun is shining, the grass needs cutting, etc, etc.