Patience is rewarded.

Seven --or is it eight?-- years ago Chula got a modest road bike with a Chorus groupo and started riding a bit. She never really started logging miles, and the bike sees a trainer ride about as often as I ride the trainer (read: never).

Many times while working on my bike and needed shifters, cassette, wheels or derailers, I contemplated pirating them from Chula's bike. She would never know or miss them. I never did.
A local is rebuilding an beautifully refurbished Merckx. He wants to build it up with classic Al Campy. Al Campy new/old stock is hard to come by, and he did not want carbon or black Campy. So I say, "My wife might trade her basically new Al Campy for the fancy carbon stuff." His eyes light up, a deal is made and cleared with upper management.

Chula, bless her heart, said "Honey, you should ride that new Campy, and just put that old Campy from your cross bike on my bike. I wouldn't know the difference anyway."

A happy marriage indeed.