1.
a wife is happiest when her husband is out; better when the husband is healthy and away
A humorous proverb expressing that a wife prefers her husband to be healthy enough to go to work and stay out of the house, rather than being home all day. Reflects a traditional housewife perspective on domestic life.
The saying 'Better when the husband is healthy and out' was commonly used in the past.
Once the husband retires and is home all the time, the 'better when he's away' situation is no more.
A humorous saying that comes from a 1986 television commercial for Kincho's Tansu ni Gon moth repellent. It is now a well-known saying, though it reflects a traditional gender-role perspective.
亭主 is an older term for husband (especially by a wife); 留守 means being away from home or absent. The phrase is often used in the context of husbands retiring and suddenly being home all day.