See, I guess it depends on the relationship you have with your partner. If it's a solid marriage / partnership, I think that you'll both be confident in one another and not have to take permission to do anything.
Maybe if this is an issue, you could turn it around and ask the question to do / have something as if it were advice?!?
You're right - people don't own people and it's not right to have to take permission from another adult to do something - seems barbaric to me.