@
ColinJ what you wrote about women playing the helpless card in a relationship is true, though in certain relationships it is essential to make the man feel "needed".
I am a very strong independent woman, but willingly had made myself incapable of all gardening, DIY, mechanical jobs around the home to please the man I loved, least be told for the umpteen time I don't trust anybody to take care of me - he was right, I don't, wish I could change that, too late now, was not too late then to give it a good try (take heed, @
sazzaa 
)
We had a strong partnership with a definite "division of labor" in the home and in the business we were running together.
It suited me: truly I find the sight of a man of mine ironing his own shirts off putting - sorry about this traditional opinion - being him a chef he was doing all the cooking if this helps

After he died our flat and garden seemed to fall apart all at once, like it knew the man of the house wasn't there anymore to fix it.
I spent a lot of money and stressed myself immensely dealing with workmen unlikely to do the job, until I got a book about home repairs so I could at least understand what was needed to be done.
Now I've got more tools that B&Q

At least I was in charge of the financials, otherwise truly I would have been helpless.
Like @
User13710 posted, independence skills are invaluable, you never know what's waiting for you round the corner in life!