AITA for loudly hating my birthday gift?
My partner (M,30) and I (F,29) have been together since we were late teens. This year for my birthday he got me a city break to Oslo, Norway. I know what you're thinking - sounds great! However, here is where I may be the AH.
I HATE city breaks with a passion. I have an intense job, volunteer at a charity and do some freelance work on the side, and therefore I want my holidays to be relaxing and chilled when I have the chance to unwind -preferably in the sun as the weather is so poor in the UK.
This doesn't mean I will never willingly go to other big cities, but they certainly don't feel like a gift to me. I don't find many of the typical touristy things fun. New York didn't impress me (it's just buildings? We have those at home?). I also just find the general hustle and bustle of big cities quite stressful. My partner on the other hand, loves them. He loves architecture, culture and doesn't mind being cold.
This is the 4th year that he has bought me a city break for my birthday - New York (I wasn't yet 21 so couldn't have a drink, which I did say I wanted to hold off for when we spoke about NY well before this), Budapest and Amsterdam were the last ones. All of which I enjoyed well enough but they felt like a gift for himself, rather than for me.
After the 2nd, I gently asked him not to buy me a city break for my birthday again as they weren't really my idea of a good time. After the 3rd, I said it more directly and reminded him in the couple of months running up to my birthday. When l opened my Oslo trip, I could barely manage to even act pleased.
To clarify, we share money. We have been together for so long that we have built whatever we have together. I earn marginally more but it's within 5k of his salary so the difference is minimal.
He is brilliant and I have no doubt that he means well but it's beginning to piss me off.
AITA for point blank telling him that he bought himself a gift for MY birthday?