Hubby wants to do a 6 week holiday alone

He's 69 and retired... its not like you have a FT job and 3 kids under 5.

What's stopping you going out and meeting him for parts of it as weekend breaks?
Or doing some legs with him?

This is a bucket list item and it would be awful to try and prevent him doing it.

Why not compromise and go for a week in the middle where there's a rest stop somewhere interesitng and do a little bit of the hike with him for a day or two? Does it have to be all or nothing?
For what it's worth, I'd be happy for my husband to go off and pursue his interests while he's still active and healthy enough.

Let him go every one needs space and time away enjoy yourself while he is gone go on holiday go to a spa

Let him go. You only get one chance at life.

Why is it taking the piss to spend a few weeks doing something you've always wanted to do, if your children are grown and you have the time and money?

I think it's taking the piss to prevent your partner from pursuing their dreams just because you don't want to have to keep your own company for a few weeks. It's a bit like saying, 'Don't have adventures. I might get bored. Stay home and keep me company.'

There's a lifetime to do that.

Is it? Many marriages withstand years of one partner working abroad or on tour in the services or as actors and musicians.

I think it's a tiny space of time within a long marriage, for a chance to fulfil a dream, and I'd actively encourage DH if he wanted an adventure like this.

Sorry but I think YABU and selfish, if you can afford it. Your children are adults. If they were still school age I'd agree with you, but now is the time to stretch your wings and have adventures, together and apart before any frailty of old age sets in.

Marriage doesn't mean joined at the hip all the time. And it certainly doesn't mean stifling your partner's dreams.

Camino is a long time and it's also expensive so discuss the costs, including equipment, accommodation etc and ensure that he is okay with you spending a similar amount on something you'd love to do.

Think of some bucket list items of your own and plan to fulfill them while he's away. Maybe meet up in Santiago in Spain to celebrate his arrival and exchange news of what adventures you've both had. Imo, that's a strong marriage.

@LillyPJ Neither am I but given that this is a six-week pilgrimage through a mountainous region, it’s probably a good idea!

I’d also like to walk the Camino at some point and I would agree to be tracked.

Why insist on tracking? I'd hate to be tracked.

A colleague's wife did the Camino some years ago.
Could you not join him at several points along the route?

Right. There's always bloody one. If anything the responses to women on this site are often off the scale unpleasant.

I would agree to it. I would insist on 360 tracking and arrange to meet for an enjoyable weekind midway and at the end - if it is a pretty destination and great weather.
Op, can you start walking up a hill once per day and train to be fit enough to join the walk for a few kilimetres?

I would not be happy to agree to six weeks every year.

I don’t really understand why you’ve included a hypothetical GOTCHA, as if our gender bias had been exposed by our hypocritical responses. Almost everyone has said the OP is being unreasonable and a fair number have suggested she is being controlling. I’m not at all sure why you’re implying it would be vastly difference if the sexes were reversed?

Yes you are being selfish - 6 weeks is not a long time in the grand scheme of things.

Plan a weekend trip with your children while he's gone? Take time to see friends you haven't seen in a while? Go and meet him at the finish? Take a solo weekend trip somewhere you have always want to go? Spend a week with family?

Lots of ways to make sure you're not just sitting at home missing him!

My partner did 13 1/2 weeks backpacking solo around South America just a few months before he turned 60. He had long wanted to do it so I waved him off and we kept in touch via email and occasional phone calls. Yes I missed him. No I didn't want to go, not my thing at all. He came back enthused and spoke about it repeatedly in the years after.
We were married in 2014 and he died in 2020. I'm happy he got to achieve his 2 big goals (marriage and travelling South America) in his life.

He's almost 70 and it's probably a bucket list activity for him. I would enjoy 6 weeks to myself and he will also be happy when he returns.

I think this would be an experience of a lifetime. I don't think you should object and let him go. You could meet up at the end point and help him celebrate.
Meanwhile you can treat yourself to going nice places for lunch etc.
If it were my husband I'd help him pack 😊😊😊

Ooh all that lovely alone time. You could go on trips, or sign up for a class, redecorate your home.

If not now, then when?

This. It's a pilgrimage, keeping going through the hard work blisters and exhaustion is a part of it, it is not a jolly to do in chunks. I think its fine to miss him but fucking bonkers to try to stop him if you don't have joint commitments like young children.

I thought this was going to be about a guy leave his wife and young kids for 6 weeks.
Let him have an adventure. 6 weeks will fly by. Don’t make him miss a once in a lifetime trip that you can’t do

I think he should go? What are you afraid of? If it is a dream of his he has to do it. Won't you be happy to have some time to yourself? And aren't you grateful to be with a 69 year old who still has a sense of adventure?

You should encourage it if it will make him happy. Plan to go and meet him when he finishes.

I think he'd resent you if you don't give him your blessing. Would you rather him miss a dream trip to sit on the couch with you for 6 weeks? Could you go along and do your own thing?
Retirement, no caring responsibilities and in good enough health to do it, it seems the perfect opportunity to go.
I have to say it sounds rather codependent that you can't be without him for a few weeks of the year (but then I am usually the one wanting to escape on a trip). Of course you'll miss him he's your husband but enjoy doing something for yourself in this time. You should be happy he's fulfilling something that makes him happy 🙂

@Shortdaysalready

you are quite right, he should prioritise OP and his marriage and sack off his dreams and sit home with OP in front of the telly. Afterall as you say you’re no longer a person in your right are you when you get married, just part of a unit. Plus who needs to hike anyway?? And who needs to do something as trivial as see the world?? You can see it all on the telly! Why even bother getting married if you’re not happy to be glued to your partners side 24/7 7 days a a week for the rest of your life! That’s what marriage is all about!!

Why does it matter if you go away when he is at home? Let him go and do your own thing solo. It will open up a new lease of life. I bloody loved solo travel, no one else to think or worry about!