similar for me. only had a single pin while married, 2014:widower, currently own 20 pins.

3 kids, 1 dog (great dane, so basically kid #4) only one kid still at home, but he is 18 and graduating high school in a few weeks!! (wooohoooo)

condolences to the others that have lost spouses, was married to a very wonderful woman for 24 years, that totally accepted my two speeds, balls to the wall or not at all. so was very supportive of ALL of my hobbies. Would give up everything to have her back.

Sorry to hear that. Yeah I don't even care my wife punches my balls everytime I buy a machine. Thankful she is around to do it!

Married 29 years, 2 adult kids living with us, 5 pins for now. House paid off next year, cars all owned, no debt.

I’m so sorry man.

AKA more pins on the way next year!!! Congrats on the house pay off being right on the horizon!!! And your upcoming 30 years of marriage!!!

Married, two grown kids. I had a single EM for 15 years, then got five 90s B/W pins when my kids were in elementary school. Kids are now gone and mortgage paid. Just bought my 53rd pin today (a Congo)

Don't Marry her !! If it's going smOOth now ,, Let it B .... Take Gene Simmons for instance ,,, he and Shannon tweed lived 2-gether 4 20 some years , raised 2 kid's ,, On the 4th Season of their Reality show ( Family Jewel's ) thay gOt Married ... 1 year later the show ended and they Divorced .. hmmm

Be cOol brother ,,, B_R

Married to my wonderful wife SuAnn for the last 23 years. Owned 644 pins but she only let me keep 75 of those.....LOL.

Been with my wife for 17 years. 2 kids 18,15, 3 dogs, 5 mini donkeys, 1 Z-donk, 4 emu,2 ostrich. And 35 pins.

that sounds like one of those rare Japanese-only arcade cabinets

1 wife, 25 years
No kids
No dogs or cats
2 pins
Would be 3 if artwork on Wonka wasn’t so lame. But I digress...

Just buy potc and you will be happy

I'm sorry for your loss, I cant imagine life without my wife.

As far as spending, I just make sure she and or the kids are happy, then I'm good to buy another. She recently wanted a Dolly Parton, which I bought for her. I try to keep everyone happy when it comes to this hobby.

Totally sucks man, sorry to hear that.

Rotate which one? The pin or the wife?

What should not be said to a girl? If you are trying to have a perfect date, to achieve the girl’s desire to meet you again, then it is better to learn the themes which you should not start at the first stages of acquaintance. Use this knowledge during dating, why not to find out more? The same thing is important for online dating. This rule works even better here. You have to do your best to move the internet acquaintance to a real-time meeting level.

Married going on 18 years, one pin that I bought with her on our 2nd date. One daughter, 2 cats, a boat, and a major house reno. After the house and dock are done, will add another pin or so.

Where's the option for was Married but Widowed? I guess I don't count … ;(

Edit never mind I see I have a lot of company here in this regard. Pinball is fun but also would give them all away and then some to have her back!

I can’t even fathom what you guys went through. Like losing 1/2 of your soul. I’m gonna go hug my wife and tell her.

Seems like that would work.

Never been married. Own about 25 machines. They are in every room I want them to be.

Married, 1 kid, 14-15 machines.

Married, 6 pins , 2 dogs.
Wife doesnt giving me too much grief when I want to buy a pin; I just need to limit myself to 1 or 2 a year.

Hired a woman to write books and teach at a mortgage school I founded back in 01. She eventually bought out my partner and became my partner in business and in life. School closed after financial crisis. She went to work for mortgage companies as an executive as I played golf and pinball and then retired because I'm unemployable. She lives between Reno and here in San Clemente and gives me enough "household money" to live well. Her idea of retirement is getting a law degree and having a consulting business for financial institutions. My life is helping with my granddaughter, playing pinball and golf. Opposites attract. She got me into pinball, and I have 5 machines and she has 1.

I’m seperated with 1 child, 6 pins, black belt 3rd dan.

at 41 I now understand that i will probably be alone all of my life. some people just aren't on that 'level' that females are on, i guess i just never got along with them or something.

i will say that i don't think i ever would have been able to enjoy my pinball lifestyle and collection though if i ever had children and a wife. it just wouldn't be in my budget.

Married for 12 years, 1 kid, 3 dogs and 2 cats, 3 damn mortgages finally just turned into 1 (whew) ...so 6 pins is soon turning into 8! Nice how that worked out...

I hated kids and never wanted have kids. I mean I really really don't like kids and can't stand them. I met my wife 3 years ago on a blind date i was on with someone else but saw my wife with her girlfriends at the bar so I excused myself from my blind date and rest is history. She's my best friend and he gets my personality better than any women I've been with. I didn't plan to have a baby but shit happens and my daughter was born. In 9 days she will have her 1st birthday party.

I'm writing this because I see many guys writing "don't want kids". Trust me guys, I was one of you. I've broken many relationships due to the fact that I would never budge on having kids. But now i have one and she's the greatest gift and blessing. I can't wait to take her to a pinball show in few years.
Married to my best friend that has no interest in pinball but encourages my hobby cuz she knows it makes me happy. 1 daughter, 6pins(had more but found out I don't play it as much when I had bigger collection)

To all the widowers, I'm truly sorry for your loss.

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If we’re adding pics of kids then I’m in ☺️

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Are any of you into marital arts?

Happily married 32 years, two kids and gone , only 4 pins atm , no room for more and too many other hobbies to do

Me too.

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Married 24 years, two buried kids, two teenagers who get more hugs than you can imagine as a result of our lost two, plus one pin that me and both kids are really enjoying. One of these days they may even beat their dear old dad’s high score!

Looking forward to pin number two in the new year, budget permitting.

Married
3 kids
10 pinballs

Divorced. However in a very committed relationship for the last 11 years with a much better woman, so it all worked out well for me.

Pins... somewhere between 20 and 25 at any given time. I keep saying I want to cut down to about 15, but never quite make it there. Maybe next year.

Married 12 years. 2 boys 4 and 6 that are a handful

At this time 13 pins. Will probably add JP at some point next year.

Have moved on to vids and coin op games in the last year or so. Throw a lot of parties with the neighborhood kids and family so my wife is cool with it because it is family time.

I sometimes question my parenting because my kids are masters at darts, Water pong (beer pong) and black jack so I am either preparing them well for college or failing miserably.

My real hobby is wakeboarding and my 6 year old is just starting to crush it. That makes pinball and arcade collecting look really cheap!

Married. 3 year old and another one coming any day now. Picked up a new WOZ a few weeks ago figuring ill be spending a lot of time at home haha.

We have been together for 8 years married for 5 years, have 1 beautiful daughter and we own 41 pinball machines together. Lifes good!

This is a beautiful post full of real life. Well done for sharing it.

25 years married, 30 years into pins, own about 30, 18 set up.

So yesterday, I'm thinking about what I can get done on the weekend, and my wife torpedoes all my plans. She says "Let's drive to Chicago and go spend the day at Logan's, Emporium, etc."

Damn I love that girl.

Don C.

8 pins. I used to study Sogo Budo as far as the Martial thing goes.

getting married in 8 days

before engagement
3 games in dining room, 1 in living room, 6 in game room, 2 in garage, 1 at parents

after engagement,
5 in game room, 2 at friends, 1 at parents, 4 in garage, 1 sold

she said she wanted a dining room, how can I argue with that lol

Thanks, now I got these boots are made for walking playing in my head...

Well which is it?

Single and Happy. No kids never wanted them still don’t had some women over the years try and trap me but to smart for that.

Wives: 1
Kids: 2
Dogs: 1
Cats: 2
Pinball: 6

Married 28 years.Wife never wanted kids which was fine by me.12 pins in 1992 down to 6 now.2 cats/2 dogs/3 deer and a peacock

oh fuck I am so sorry for your loss.
So many heartbreaks and joys in this thread.