On the old forums, there were a few, side-splitting threads on this, and stories you tell your significant other to justify picking up a motor, or two, or dozen…
I usually cover my stories with ‘honey, you want to go to dinner in xyz town tonight and try out this restaurant?’ HER: "Yes, that sounds great!" ME: "we have reservations for 6:30pm." and along the way I usually break the news that there were other motives involved in this decision making process too.
Usually works good if you bring the misses out to dinner (eh-em, some may call a ‘bribe’)….
Or the ‘ol line…"I’m saving it from the scrap yard!"