Ok Graham I have to say .
The comment from your wife sounds like you've spent money on things before. They don't have to be clothing.But a hobby which was maybe flavour of the mounth. You had a huge outlay of funds and gave-up.She maybe has the idea that kilts and kilting will end the same way as a hobby you tried.This is all of course speculation on my part.

You'll have to show her how much this means to you.Health wise financially,socially,and emotionally.I feel she's just waiting for the day you wake-up and put on trousers