# What on earth to get the SO that has everything? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 1, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938 "2010-05-01T02:50:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![truthbot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@truthbot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthbot)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/1 "2010-05-01T02:50:15Z")
Mr. bot’s birthday is approaching. Year before last I got him a nice digital camera, last year I gave him a laptop (which he loves and doesn’t know how he lived without!) This year I am stumped. I was going to splurge and get him a new 4Runner, but he just purchased one a couple of weeks ago, natch. He literally has everything he needs and wants. Socks and undies just don’t convey the thought I wish to put forth. He doesn’t wear ties. He’s turning 65 and threatened me with corporal punishment if I gave him a big party (which I did for his 60th.) Why doesn’t Hallmark just make a BJ punchcard and be done with it? _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/2 "2010-05-01T02:58:07Z")
Why, a gift card from Olive Garden, of course! 😃 (runners up: Applebees, Pizza Hut, or McDonalds). A card for buying gas? Not very ‘personal’, but I got one for Christmas and knowing it’s there in my purse for an emergency is comforting to me. I have a feeling the price of gas is going to go way, way, way up again… ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/3 "2010-05-01T03:02:33Z")
> [@truthbot](#): > > Why doesn’t Hallmark just make a BJ punchcard and be done with it? _sigh_ That’s what I came in to say. Did you ask him? I know I’m hell to buy presents for, so I just pointed out to my girlfriend that I had exactly one nice wool hiking sock left. That solved that. ---
**Author:** ![truthbot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@truthbot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthbot)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/4 "2010-05-01T03:39:09Z")
I did ask him, appleciders. He replied “Oh, nothing.” Which implies he _wants_ the Hallmark BJ card, but doesn’t want to look like a pig and actually _ask_ for it. He’s such a gentleman. Albeit a frustrating gentleman to buy presents for. I just wanted to get something special for his 65th, and I got nuthin’. I will throw him a party with friends and family and take my punishment for doing so, I just want to get him an awesome gift. I need some creative input. Maybe a gift card for some massages? ---
**Author:** ![kathmandu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kathmandu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kathmandu)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/5 "2010-05-01T03:49:41Z")
Cheese of the month! A Snuggie! A pet rock? I got nothin. I can never figure out what to get my hubby either. Luckily he’s worse at gift getting than I am, so the pressure’s off. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/6 "2010-05-01T03:53:42Z")
What about an experience, as opposed to a gift? There’s the old fall backs of a hot air balloon ride, race car around a track, sky dive - but is there something he’s always wanted to do that you can arrange? Even an interest like a sausage making class, or kiteboarding lessons? ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/7 "2010-05-01T06:20:38Z")
How 'bout a multi-tool? Every guy I know (regardless of age) seems to think they’re pretty nifty. Leatherman makes a dandy one… ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/8 "2010-05-01T07:46:08Z")
> [@truthbot](#): > > Mr. bot’s birthday is approaching. Year before last I got him a nice digital camera, last year I gave him a laptop (which he loves and doesn’t know how he lived without!) > > This year I am stumped. I was going to splurge and get him a new 4Runner, but he just purchased one a couple of weeks ago, natch. He literally has everything he needs and wants. Socks and undies just don’t convey the thought I wish to put forth. He doesn’t wear ties. He’s turning 65 and threatened me with corporal punishment if I gave him a big party (which I did for his 60th.) > > Why doesn’t Hallmark just make a BJ punchcard and be done with it? _sigh_ Make your own [nookie certificate book](http://www.lovingyou.com/content/printables/), problem solved ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/9 "2010-05-01T08:18:13Z")
A microscope, or a telescope, or a welding machine. No… wait… Those are the things **I** want. ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/10 "2010-05-01T09:12:34Z")
A single massage and a couples massage gift card – from one of the good spas or Massage Envy (if they are in your area). ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/11 "2010-05-01T11:41:58Z")
My SO is difficult, too. I’m thinking about taking his car in and getting the windows tinted. He’s talked about it, so I know he’d like it, but he hasn’t actually done it yet. Maybe something similar for his new 4Runner? Wet Okole seat covers are nice (I got some for my car for my birthday last year), nicer wheels, etc? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/12 "2010-05-01T13:00:17Z")
A dinner in a fine restaurant? ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/13 "2010-05-01T13:27:33Z")
iPad? And I second a Leatherman…I have a wave and love it. ---
**Author:** ![DivineComedienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c67d28/32.png) [@DivineComedienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DivineComedienne)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/14 "2010-05-01T13:36:07Z")
I have a hard time with gifts for Mr.Divine as well. He doesn’t need anything he can’t buy for himself (or hasn’t already bought). So I have to be creative. Once he commented to me that back in high school he had a denim Levis jacket that he loved, and it had a hidden pocket inside where he hid his pot from his parents 🙂 So I bought him a traditional Levis jacket to replace it; it didn’t have the hidden pocket, so I sewed one in for him. He still has it, 15 years later (no pot, though, we’re too old for that). He goes fishing every weekend in the spring and summer, and he usually bought multiple pairs of cheap sunglasses because he was always losing them; but he always wanted a good pair of Ray-Bans, to see if they were really that much better for his vision, out on the boat in the sun. But he couldn’t bring himself to spend $200 on sunglasses when he was getting by with the cheapies. So I got him a pair one year for Christmas, and he loves them, he said they are infinitely better on his eyes than the cheap ones. And hasn’t lost them yet. I guess the key here is to look at things he would enjoy that are on the fringes of other things he enjoys - so I think \*\*Hanna’s \*\*idea for some accessory for the 4Runner is great - Maybe gift certificates for the local automatic car wash, so he can take the new car in once or twice a month to keep it sparkly clean? He’ll be reminded of your gift every time he gets it washed. Of course, I’m sure the BJ plan would be a hit, too. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/15 "2010-05-01T17:31:39Z")
What about his hobbies? My husband has any number of hobbies and interests, and he always seems to like gifts in those areas. Or how about something completely frivolous? Something he might have shown some interest in in a store or on tv? A radio-controlled car, a television series on dvd that he used to love, spinning rims for his new 4Runner, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/16 "2010-05-01T20:11:27Z")
A gift card for [Powell’s Books.](http://www.powells.com/) ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/17 "2010-05-01T20:22:16Z")
Anal. No. I’m not kidding. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/18 "2010-05-01T20:58:36Z")
My wife knows I love travelling, so one year for my birthday she give me (actually the two of us together) a little trip to someplace we always wanted to go, but hadn’t yet gone: A three-day weekend in Vancouver. ETA; We live in the San Francisco area, to give you an idea of how far that is. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/19 "2010-05-01T21:45:01Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > What about an experience, as opposed to a gift? That was my first thought, too. Maybe a special night out doing something that he is really interested in? A weekend getaway? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938/20 "2010-05-02T04:45:08Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > What about an experience, as opposed to a gift? There’s the old fall backs of a hot air balloon ride, race car around a track, sky dive - but is there something he’s always wanted to do that you can arrange? Even an interest like a sausage making class, or kiteboarding lessons? This. Find something on his bucket list. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-to-get-the-so-that-has-everything/537938.md?page=2)