Man takes gaming laptop on family vacation, doesn't understand when wife gets annoyed at him gaming in the evenings: 'I already spent the entire day being social'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Apr 18, 2026 1:15 PM EDT

Most people would agree that vacation is a place to get away from it all, but not everyday has the same thoughts about what 'all' means.

For those who believe that you should make an effort to do something different while holidaying, it is a time to stay away from all the normal responsibilities and distractions, and enjoy all things novel for a few days. Others are more in the camp that a vacation should be an opportunity to indulge in at least some of the creature comforts that they also have at home.

While everyone is allowed to have their preferences, going on vacation with other people means that you have to strike a balance between your desires and everybody else's. Just because it is a time to relax doesn't mean that you get to go without making the occasional compromise. Those who are unwilling to do that are likely to cause unnecessary trouble at a time when that is the last thing that anybody wants to deal with. Being the annoying one on a holiday is not a pleasant position to be in, but it is usually pretty easy to avoid. You just need to be aware of the needs of others.

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  • Cheezburger Image 10625207808
    via Barnabas Davoti

    A cabin sitting by a lake, surrounded by pine trees

  • When going on a family vacation to a lakeside cabin, a man decided to take his gaming setup with him, as video games were the way that he normally chose to unwind. During the day, he spent time doing activities with his family, but he went upstairs to play games during the evenings.

    This annoyed his wife, who reported that other members of the family felt that he was being antisocial by staying in his room on his laptop at this time. She accused him of not wanting to be present and giving a bad impression. He wanted a second opinion on this.

  • Am I wrong for bringing my gaming setup on a family trip and "missing out" on bonding time?

    So my wife and I planned this long weekend getaway to a cabin near the lake with my brother and his girlfriend we agreed it was going to be a relaxing time to unplug and just chill out away from work stress. now you have to understand that I work in a high pressure engineering firm and my main way to actually decompress after a week
    via Gl1tchHarpsichord
  • of spreadsheets and CAD models is playing a few rounds of Dota or Destiny with my old college buddies. it is my "me time" and it keeps me sane. before we left I packed my laptop and headset because I knew there would be downtime in the evenings while everyone was just sitting around the fire or drinking wine.
    via Gl1tchHarpsichord
  • The first two days were great we went hiking and did some grilling and spent basically ten hours a day together doing "family stuff". but once the sun went down and everyone started nursing their third glass of wine and talking about the same old stories for the hundredth time I decided to head to the back room and hop online for maybe two hours max . I
    via Gl1tchHarpsichord
  • wasn't being loud and I even wore my headset so I wouldn't disturb anyone. on the third night my wife comes into the room looking all annoyed and says that my brothers girlfriend thinks I am being "anti social" and that I am "ruining the vibe" of the group trip.
    via Gl1tchHarpsichord
  • I told her that I had already spent the entire day being social and that I deserve to relax how I want during my vacation too. she says that the whole point of a group trip is to be present and that bringing my "toys" makes me look like a teenager who doesnt want to
    via Gl1tchHarpsichord
  • be there. I think it is unfair because they were just sitting in the living room scrolling on their phones anyway while the TV was on in the background. how is my gaming any different from them being on tiktok or instagram for hours? now there is this weird tension and my wife is acting like I committed some
    via Gl1tchHarpsichord
  • huge betrayal of the family bond. I really dont see the big deal since I was there for all the "important" parts of the day.
    via Gl1tchHarpsichord
  • Close up of a man gaming on a laptop as seen from behind
    via Clastr Cloud Gaming

    Close up of a man gaming on a laptop as seen from behind

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • CoconutSylveon You agreed it was going to be a time to unplug but then brought a gaming setup? I think that alone makes it YTB.
    via CoconutSylveon
  • Chaosofa MadHatter In this case, YTB. I'm a gamer too and I love nothing more than playing to unwind, but sometimes you gotta read the room. Yeah, they're on their phones and only being pseudo social, but it's meant as an actual part of bonding. Casual social interaction where you
    via ChaosofaMadHatter
  • all exist together is important. If you were playing something like Animal Crossing on the switch in the same room as them, it would be different because you're still meeting that pseudo social interaction, and you can step away if needed at a moment's notice. But
    via ChaosofaMadHatter
  • when you're cordoned off you're not participating in the organic socialness that arises in those situations.
    via ChaosofaMadHatter
  • EmotionalSouth Yes. YTA. Be an adult and spend some time without gaming. Part of having relationships is it not always being about getting your own way.
    via EmotionalSouth
  • Slight-Concept2575 I think it's extremely weird that you can't spend one weekend not gaming.
    via Slight-Concept2575
  • mladyhawke YTA how embarrassing for your wife
    via mladyhawke
  • alicat777777 I agree with your wife. It's a cabin. Unplug for a while.
    via alicat777777
  • Fuelfemme What are you, 12?? Of course you're TBF. It's a weekend. If you can't go that long without playing, you have a problem. You're an addict
    via Fuelfemme
  • Gizmosraging rection Yes. You aren't a child. you can spend a few days with out playing video games.
    via Gizmosragingrection
  • mc_345 Everyone sitting around the fire or drinking wine telling stories means spending time together and you are off gaming instead of hanging out with your wife. I'm shocked you got away with it at all let alone a few nights. If I saw my husband
    via mc_345_
  • even packing his gaming headphones I would have shut it down immediately. If my husband went off into another room instead of hanging out with me by the fire during our cabin by the lake getaway I'd be seriously hurt and question if he even liked me at all. I
    via mc_345_
  • would also feel so embarrassed that my husband put me in that position around my friends/family to have to explain his actions. You are telling everyone that you are with that you don't want to be around them. Of course you're
    via mc_345_
  • being judged. I'm sure gaming isn't the ONLY way you can relax? Isn't the whole weekend relaxing? I'm hearing a lot of "me me me |||” like your stress or need to relax is unique from everyone else's, and that you're not hearing her.
    via mc_345_
  • HCIBSW YTB When I saw the title, I thought this must be a kid, 13 or 14. Well you grownup, you proved me wrong.
    via HCIBSW

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Tags

family drama gaming wife family laptop entitled people vacation
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