When I was younger, my grandma used to take pleasure in telling me that the main relationship advice she always gave my mom and uncle was to marry someone with practical skills. She reasoned that being with somebody who knew how to fix a leaky tap or hem an item of clothing would always make their lives easier in the long run. Neither of them listened and proceeded to choose the most impractical partners imaginable (they had other strengths), so she never got to test that particular nugget of wisdom.

Marrying into a family when you have a useful talent or several can sometimes prove to be a curse because all of a sudden, there are a bunch of people who feel entitled to your expertise. While the occasional favor, family discount, or exchange isn’t out of the question, most of those who earn their living through said skill don’t want to be exploited for their labor.