> Also there's more to productivity than the quantity of working hours. Someone who makes you happy (which better be your spouse) increases your output when you do work.
For double effect tell your spouse "There's more to our relationship than the quantity of time we spend together. A job that makes me happy increases the quality of our time when we are together."
Aka: The more I'm away from you, the more I like being with you.
I wouldn't focus on explaining what makes you happy if you want this conversation to end well.
If nothing else, it's a good way to test how healthy your relationship is. I already knew the answer before I joined a startup. We were watching Devil Wears Prada and she quipped how whiney the main character's boyfriend was about her career. Relationships really are better when you're doing what you both enjoy. She may not have enjoyed her job, but it set her on the path to the job she wanted.
Now excuse me while I punch myself in the nuts for knowing so much about a chick flick.
Financially it was fine, my wife has a good job. It's far better to have two people living off of one income than one person living off of zero. (I had my own anyway, but even if not, we could have swung it due to that.)
As far as being productive goes, it depends on your relationship. One of my cofounders is pseudo-married and his girlfriend pushes him to work harder. Another has a recent girlfriend who absorbs far too much of his time and mental effort. Being married has no bearing on this, it's all in how you handle relationships.
Also there's more to productivity than the quantity of working hours. Someone who makes you happy (which better be your spouse) increases your output when you do work.