What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Questions on how we spend our money and our time - consumer goods and services, home and vehicle, leisure and recreational activities
abner kravitz
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by abner kravitz »

I have watched EVERY Boston Bruins game since I retired in 2015. I can’t wait for the season. I love hockey.
Limoncello402
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Limoncello402 »

Getting cozy in bed, preferably early, with a good mystery.
Dark roast coffee in the pre-dawn, watching the sun rise.
Sitting in the sun.
Riding my bike.
Going to Pilates class.
Gardening.
Being retired--tops everything because I can do all of the above in one day.
Dottie57
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Dottie57 »

Slowly waking up in bed with Sun being my wake up call.
Walking into my new living room and seeing a wall of green.(trees)
First coffee in the morning.
Reading a new magazine.
Two hour breakfast with friends.
Last edited by Dottie57 on Tue Sep 07, 2021 11:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
rich126
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by rich126 »

A hot shower.
Fresh bed sheets, especially warm one on a cold night.
Crisp, fresh french fries.
Aromas from a bakery.
Freshly cooked chocolate chip cookies.
A snowfall making everything white and quiet.
When I used to ski, the view from the top of the mountain. I recall my first western trip to Sun Valley, Idaho and the view just seemed fake like it was a painting.
As a kid, Christmas Day.
Resting in bed watching a nice movie.
Waking up and then realizing it isn't a work day.
As a kid resting in my grandmother's hammock on a rare beautiful day in Maryland (no humidity 70s or low 80s).
My grandmother's paper thin Christmas cookies.

Biggest/simple regret. Worrying/stressing or missing out on things because I thought I'd either embarrass myself or someone might say no, or I might fail.
----------------------------- | If you think something is important and it doesn't involve the health of someone, think again. Life goes too fast, enjoy it and be nice.
rgs92
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by rgs92 »

Beatles music.
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Kurmudjon
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Kurmudjon »

rich126 wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 1:11 pm A hot shower.
Fresh bed sheets, especially warm one on a cold night.
Crisp, fresh french fries.
Aromas from a bakery.
Freshly cooked chocolate chip cookies.
A snowfall making everything white and quiet.
When I used to ski, the view from the top of the mountain. I recall my first western trip to Sun Valley, Idaho and the view just seemed fake like it was a painting.
As a kid, Christmas Day.
Resting in bed watching a nice movie.
Waking up and then realizing it isn't a work day.
As a kid resting in my grandmother's hammock on a rare beautiful day in Maryland (no humidity 70s or low 80s).
My grandmother's paper thin Christmas cookies.

Biggest/simple regret. Worrying/stressing or missing out on things because I thought I'd either embarrass myself or someone might say no, or I might fail.
What a great post:)
“Some of its magic some of its tragic but I had a good life all the way.”
RXfiles
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by RXfiles »

Making enough to where eating whatever you want doesn't affect your budget.

Coffees here and there. Grabbing lunch somewhere

My wife would 100% say getting her nails done. 60 every two 2weeks seems like a lot to me but it makes her happy and its not too crazy so it's worth every penny.
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Godot
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Godot »

capitalhockey wrote: Tue Apr 16, 2019 8:37 am Similar to everyone here, I am very good at saving money. There are some consumer items that brings me pleasure and to me, are worth the spending. I don't consider them extravagant but simple pleasures.

What are your simple pleasures?
- Poker and all of its variants
- Reading
- Bicycling
- Flaneuring
"The day you die is just like any other, only shorter." | ― Samuel Beckett
rockstar
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by rockstar »

Hiking.

It's a great escape from the office whether it's at home or in an office building.
MP173
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by MP173 »

Several of mine:

Arising before dawn and stepping outside to a perfectly clear morning (without light pollution yet) and seeing the winter constellations rising in the eastern sky....did this yesterday.
Driving east and watching the sun rise above the horizon, framed by ground fog...also yesterday.
The feeling of the tug of a bluegill on my ultra light tackle with four pound test line...also yesterday.
The taste of a freshly baked Amish cinnamon roll...also yesterday.
Sitting next to a campfire, visiting with my oldest son for two hours...ironically explaining to him why I live a simple life...also yesterday.
Eating fresh walleye and bluegill for lunch....yesterday
Driving home two hours and arriving at the same time as my wife and granddaughter.

Yesterday was a very simple but pleasant day.

Ed
Van
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Van »

A cocktail, usually a whiskey sour, while preparing dinner.
Swimmer
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Swimmer »

Swimming my mile every day at 7am.
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nedsaid
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by nedsaid »

The local coffeeshop.
A fool and his money are good for business.
doobiedoo
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by doobiedoo »

Crossword puzzles.

Actually, it's a little more than that.
The Sunday paper I get has 2 word jumbles, 2 Sudokus, and 4 crossword puzzles including the NY Times Sunday crossword! I like to do them spaced out over the week.
Firemenot
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Firemenot »

Sharp knives. And coffee and booze.
blueberrypi
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by blueberrypi »

finding the "perfect" item on eBay. I love buying lightly used stuff at a huge discount.
davedci1
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by davedci1 »

working in the yard and listening to the dodgers game on the radio.
dewey
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by dewey »

Biking
Walking (when I'm physically able--just starting short walks again after 6 month hiatus)
Sitting on our back patio with my wife
Watching Hummingbirds--they're here all the time because my wife has lots of plants that are favorites of Hummers
Enjoying our pre-dinner drink on the patio
Enjoying our morning coffee on the patio
Listening to music--modern rock and Indie rock, classical, occasional country...
Sitting in my recliner, watching Netflix movies or series, HBO, and lots of sports.
Doing all the above whenever I (we) choose. Owning time and what to do with it is the best part of retirement as I see it.
As Bertrand Russell said, "Time enjoyed doing nothing is never time wasted..."
“The only freedom that is of enduring importance is freedom of intelligence…” John Dewey
Finridge
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Finridge »

TheTimeLord wrote: Tue Apr 16, 2019 10:31 am
surfstar wrote: Tue Apr 16, 2019 10:11 am Backpacking

Realizing that everything you truly "need", can fit on your back and be carried with you.
I have a friend who is getting into this. He was spent a couple thousand on a watch and GPS device. The irony of needing such technology to safely get off the grid amused us both.
A "couple thousand" on a watch and GPS device? Ouch, and not necessary.

Most people already have a smartphone and all they need is the Gaia GPS app (free download) and a $20 per year subscription--that provides the full functionality of a state-of-the art GPS device integrated with topo maps. There are free apps that can also be used with a smartphone for this, but Gaia GPS is worth the few bucks. And with this, there is no need for a GPS watch. But daily training, GPS watches are nice, but you can get a perfectly good one for under $200 (like the Garmin Instinct).

However, for extra safety, it's not a bad idea to carry a satellite messenger. The most popular choice is the Garmin InReach Mini - $350 and requires at least the basic subscription ($12 per month). Let's you sent out a message that is the equivalent of calling 911 from anywhere, even where there is not cell phone reception.
Finridge
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Finridge »

serbeer wrote: Thu Apr 25, 2019 11:13 pm Reading Kindle next to my gas fireplace in a recliner with footstool while slowly sipping a glass of aged port or Grand Marnier.
Too bad winter is over now and today is probably one of the last nights I will be able to do that as I am going to shutdown pilot on my gas fireplace till next winter, probably this weekend.
I can completely relate! Doesn't get any better than this! :sharebeer
waterlife
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by waterlife »

Kayaking for an hour or so in nearby waters.
marc in merrimack
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by marc in merrimack »

Finridge wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 5:04 pm

A "couple thousand" on a watch and GPS device? Ouch, and not necessary.

Most people already have a smartphone and all they need is the Gaia GPS app (free download) and a $20 per year subscription--that provides the full functionality of a state-of-the art GPS device integrated with topo maps. There are free apps that can also be used with a smartphone for this, but Gaia GPS is worth the few bucks. And with this, there is no need for a GPS watch. But daily training, GPS watches are nice, but you can get a perfectly good one for under $200 (like the Garmin Instinct).
Fwiw, Gaia subscription has been $40/yearly for a while now.
H-Town
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by H-Town »

lifting weight
Time is the ultimate currency.
stereotaxis
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by stereotaxis »

I know I posted earlier on this topic but something I take for granted must of the time:

Simply living without pain.
Dottie57
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Dottie57 »

22twain wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2019 6:12 pm
DanMahowny wrote: Wed Apr 17, 2019 4:29 pm 60-90 minute showers.
For that amount of time, I prefer to soak in the tub while reading a few magazines.
The tub water gets cold.
UpperNwGuy
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by UpperNwGuy »

A martini before starting to cook supper.
Wanderingwheelz
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Wanderingwheelz »

My everyday bike ride- 18.5mi through some of the prettiest scenery in the Middle Atlantic region.
Being wrong compounds forever.
LifeIsShort
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by LifeIsShort »

Sitting around the dining room table with the family; going to the gym; riding in the Jeep with no doors or top in the summer, golf at sunset, cocktail while the Weber heats up, Sunday morning Mass, watching my kids turn into adults, my dogs, my wife, working on the next home improvement project, looking at the ocean, and taking an afternoon nap on my couch
goldendad
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by goldendad »

Good coffee, walking every morning with my wife, sitting on the back deck in the afternoon and reading
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topper1296
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by topper1296 »

morning coffee, watching it snow and an old fashioned on the weekends while watching TV.
SGM
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by SGM »

Coffee and bagel with friends.
Sitting on our recently enclosed porch with see through screens with my wife or reading a book.
Hiking, fishing, hunting
Cracking free crabs and shucking oysters.
Walks on the beach.
Breakfast at a restaurant near our vacation home.
Watching a sporting event from my couch.
Eating a wonderful home cooked meal.
Staying in touch with old friends.
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Sandtrap
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Sandtrap »

Composing global destination snail mail letters to friends with fountain pen and paper or vintage typewriter.

j🌺
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Nicolas
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Nicolas »

Sandtrap wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:23 am Composing global destination snail mail letters to friends with fountain pen and paper or vintage typewriter.

j🌺
How many reply in kind? I read an article, online of course, written by a guy who sat down with paper and ink and wrote a paper letter in longhand to everyone in his life he ever knew, and mailed them off, to see what would happen. He got only a very few replies.
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peterinjapan
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by peterinjapan »

With the lockdown, focusing on fixing things that could be better at home. Bought new beds, remodeled our patio to be an exotic place to take in the sun since we can't go to vegas. Bought a nice car too...or even better, I had my company buy it for me, which is a thing here in Japan.
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Sandtrap
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Sandtrap »

Nicolas wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:27 am
Sandtrap wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:23 am Composing global destination snail mail letters to friends with fountain pen and paper or vintage typewriter.

j🌺
How many reply in kind? I read an article, online of course, written by a guy who sat down with paper and ink and wrote a paper letter in longhand to everyone in his life he ever knew, and mailed them off, to see what would happen. He got only a very few replies.
This website: Fountain Pen Network, has a subforum for "snail mailing and corresponding", finding others of like interests and also appreciate spending the time to think, compose, and write, hopefully in script/cursive, in letters that are akin to a long conversation. Something treasured in the past and now, perhaps, an art form.
And, something antithetical to modern email, twit, text, cancel culture (delete, lock, suspend, void), and disposable contacts and anonymity at the speed of a mouse click and with no more thought than that.

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/

Some of my correspondent friends have been exchaning monthly letters for many years. Some are on this forum.
j :D
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pennywise
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by pennywise »

Dottie57 wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 1:01 pm
First come in the morning.
:shock:
Nicolas
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Nicolas »

Sandtrap wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 10:13 am This website: Fountain Pen Network, has a subforum for "snail mailing and corresponding", finding others of like interests and also appreciate spending the time to think, compose, and write, hopefully in script/cursive, in letters that are akin to a long conversation. Something treasured in the past and now, perhaps, an art form.
And, something antithetical to modern email, twit, text, cancel culture (delete, lock, suspend, void), and disposable contacts and anonymity at the speed of a mouse click and with no more thought than that.
Thanks. I’m a member there also and I prefer writing with fountain pens. But I don’t write to anyone, nothing to say. And now that I’m retired they don’t get much use.
Last edited by Nicolas on Tue Sep 07, 2021 4:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Maverick3320
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Maverick3320 »

A Mountain Dew on ice (I can't drink it straight anymore) after a long run or bike ride once or twice a week.
Wannaretireearly
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Wannaretireearly »

Kurmudjon wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 1:19 pm
rich126 wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 1:11 pm A hot shower.
Fresh bed sheets, especially warm one on a cold night.
Crisp, fresh french fries.
Aromas from a bakery.
Freshly cooked chocolate chip cookies.
A snowfall making everything white and quiet.
When I used to ski, the view from the top of the mountain. I recall my first western trip to Sun Valley, Idaho and the view just seemed fake like it was a painting.
As a kid, Christmas Day.
Resting in bed watching a nice movie.
Waking up and then realizing it isn't a work day.
As a kid resting in my grandmother's hammock on a rare beautiful day in Maryland (no humidity 70s or low 80s).
My grandmother's paper thin Christmas cookies.

Biggest/simple regret. Worrying/stressing or missing out on things because I thought I'd either embarrass myself or someone might say no, or I might fail.
What a great post:)
+1. Trying hard to do a lot of these simple pleasures even while wor*ing
“At some point you are trading time you will never get back for money you will never spend.“ | “How do you want to spend the best remaining year of your life?“
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Toons
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Toons »

Watching leaves fall
Watching ocean waves roll in.
Gazing at the Scenery along the BlueRidge Parkway

:happy
"One does not accumulate but eliminate. It is not daily increase but daily decrease. The height of cultivation always runs to simplicity" –Bruce Lee
namajones
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by namajones »

Limoncello402 wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 12:11 pm Getting cozy in bed, preferably early, with a good mystery.
Dark roast coffee in the pre-dawn, watching the sun rise.
Sitting in the sun.
Riding my bike.
Going to Pilates class.
Gardening.
Being retired--tops everything because I can do all of the above in one day.
This sounds lovely.
namajones
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by namajones »

Sandtrap wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:23 am Composing global destination snail mail letters to friends with fountain pen and paper or vintage typewriter.

j🌺
Excellent! Letters have a much better chance of being kept than email.
Wannaretireearly
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Wannaretireearly »

I love coffee, but a strong cup of English tea with a touch of honey and milk tastes so good right now. While watching a Euro soccer qualifier. Quite a pleasure for the day after labor day, and satisfying after a one hour hike/stroll. Not bad for a *working* morning 😉
“At some point you are trading time you will never get back for money you will never spend.“ | “How do you want to spend the best remaining year of your life?“
heyyou
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by heyyou »

Having the free time of retirement is at the top of my list

Listening to boogie woogie piano music on You Tube

Walking 4 miles, almost every evening, then sitting outside to drink first a pint of cold water, then one beer

For backpacking trips in early retirement, I carried a small hammock for comfortable sleeping

Using an easily sharpened, carbon steel French chef knife for slicing and dicing on a round bamboo cutting board

The ease of cooking brown rice in a rice cooker, just start it and come back later

Crock pot cooking is simple, saves time, and does not heat up the kitchen, but you will tire of boiled foods so use it to cook separate ingredients that are later added to other dishes, i.e. parboiling carrots or cooking the meat that goes into main course summer salads
Finridge
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by Finridge »

marc in merrimack wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 5:22 pm
Finridge wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 5:04 pm

A "couple thousand" on a watch and GPS device? Ouch, and not necessary.

Most people already have a smartphone and all they need is the Gaia GPS app (free download) and a $20 per year subscription--that provides the full functionality of a state-of-the art GPS device integrated with topo maps. There are free apps that can also be used with a smartphone for this, but Gaia GPS is worth the few bucks. And with this, there is no need for a GPS watch. But daily training, GPS watches are nice, but you can get a perfectly good one for under $200 (like the Garmin Instinct).
Fwiw, Gaia subscription has been $40/yearly for a while now.

I see that for *new* subscriptions, in April of this year they started offering *only* the $40 per year "premium" membership. People who already had a regular (non-"premium") membership can keep and renew this, but new subscribers can only get the $40 "premium" rate--that's too bad. At these prices, a casual user may want to check out other options, such as Backcountry Navigator.
hdcd
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by hdcd »

Drinking coffee that I roasted and taking a morning walk in our backyard arboretum that we created. Lifting weights. Walking at the beach.
TXWill
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by TXWill »

An hour or two having coffee and conversation with a friend. :D
lws
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by lws »

Drinking a can of bitter beer.
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dratkinson
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by dratkinson »

Dottie57 wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 8:10 pm
22twain wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2019 6:12 pm
DanMahowny wrote: Wed Apr 17, 2019 4:29 pm 60-90 minute showers.
For that amount of time, I prefer to soak in the tub while reading a few magazines.
The tub water gets cold.
A tub with drain and water faucets that can be manipulated by toes.
d.r.a., not dr.a. | I'm a novice investor; you are forewarned.
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rob
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Re: What Are Your Simple Pleasures?

Post by rob »

DanMahowny wrote: Wed Apr 17, 2019 4:29 pmDriving with windows down and AC on full blast.
I know how this sounds but anyone that has not tried it... do it....
| Rob | Its a dangerous business going out your front door. - J.R.R.Tolkien
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