When I lived in Tokushima, Japan (2009-2021), my bed was up against a window. Outside that window was the 280m/920ft Mt. Bizan, a 1/2 mile walk away. In warm weather, I’d sit in bed and watch the clouds pass by (sometimes with the window open.) It was a simple, yet EXTREMELY pleasurable thing to do…I miss it so much (I live in Vegas now…not something I’d do here.)
Sittin’ on the porch without no shoes, picking my bass and singing the blues.
In the summer, Bunny Casting: We have a great deal of rabbits that come in our back yard and this time of year we engage in bunny casting. You take a fly rod and try to land the leader gently on the bunny’s back. If done properly, the bunny kind of twitches, but keeps nibbling the grass. If you spook the bunny, you lose. Bourbon is often involved.
In the winter, sitting in the den reading with a fire and bourbon.
Shaving’s a good one. I’m transitioning back to a safety razor soon so I’ll give that one some thought.
For me:
Every morning, sitting in my little couch nook with my craft light, cross-stitching while my son gets ready for school.
Drinking an ice cold Mexican bottled Coke while writing in my Scribe journal.
Hot baths. Really hot baths. I have an enormous garden tub that fills up really high. What gets me is the first twenty seconds of the bath. It’s like a shock to the system that instantly releases stress.
Lately I’m discovering the joy of the evening shower. Hot water washing away the day’s stress and it puts me to sleep fast.
I have a Hatch light that gives me a little colored light show and soothing sounds before bed. Starts with sleepy tones, then transitions to waves lapping the shore, and I always imagine the sounds are made by jellyfish squooshing around in the ocean.
That sound wonderful. I lived off a lake once with deer and stuff, it was nice - but not that nice.
Next time it is gonna rain,m spread some clover seed around- it helps the lawn and the bunnies love it.
My wife does that, and knitting also. She once took some raw sheeps wool, carded it, spun it, and knitted it.
Yep.
Sing it, Clyde!
However, I have had little success tying a tambourine to my dog’s tail.
Drinking my wine out of a nice glass.
I find them in one of the local grocery chains, Giant Eagle, near the butters and refrigerated English muffins.
I dont know why that makes it taste better, but it does.
When I approached my dog with a tambourine, he told me to beat it.
I enjoy making movie theater popcorn at home. There’s one ‘secret’ ingredient you won’t find at the grocery store and that’s Flavacol. It’s the special seasoning salt that movie theaters and carnivals have used the past 60+ years. Make a batch of popcorn at home and you’ll instantly recognize the familiar taste. I ordered a container of the stuff recently and paid about $7 online. That’s likely more than enough to see me through at least a decade of popcorn making at home. Palm oil is most authentic but you can use peanut or any other suitable vegetable-based oil. I happen to have an old school stove top hand cranked popcorn popper that I use but that’s not essential. Put some nice melted butter on top and the next time you turn on HBO you’re enjoying one of the essential components of the movie theater experience in the comfort of your own home. Crack open a Boddington’s Pub Style Ale and un-pause where you left off watching Dune.
Sitting in a quiet cool living room early in the morning, sipping strong black tea with milk and sugar out of my big tea mug, while reading my favorite newspaper comics.
Getting into bed at night and lying flat to uncurl and relax all the tired kinks out.
Having a batch of biscuits that you labored carefully over turn out perfectly risen, flaky and buttery.
For better or worse, I’ve never been one to just relax and lounge at home. I am very task-minded, there are always a million jobs that need to be done, and I’d feel guilty & lazy for doing such. But over the past couple of years I’ve found myself occasionally sitting on the rocking chair on our front porch and just relaxing for a few minutes, especially when I’m alone. I take in the beautiful scenery, and listen to the birds. (We live in the middle of prairie & woods.) (Not to be a buzzkill, but after a while I start to think about people I’ve upset or disappointed, and I’ll get back to work.)
Once I realized most of those million jobs were self-imposed but in fact completely optional, and I simply crossed them off my list forever I’ve been much happier.
IMO the greatest simple pleasure is having no obligation to anyone. Including most especially no obligation to myself. That feels to me like being a kid again. Free to explore the big exciting world Calvin style, or sleep in a tree until dinner Hobbes style.
You do you, but you might think about this.
I just received the carton of Flavacol that I ordered from Amazon! I can’t wait to try it. Do you put it in with the kernels and oil? I’ve heard some people sprinkle it on after it’s been popped.
Definitely works perfectly putting it in with the oil. That’s how I’ve done it the half dozen times I’ve used it so far. I confess it never occurred to me to try sprinkling it on afterwards. Seems like you’d get uneven distribution of the seasoning that way.
How to Make Movie Theater Popcorn At Home: The LAST Popcorn Video You’ll EVER Need!
Yep. It’s an experience as much as a drink!
I used to have a home with a back deck that had a retractable awning. Sometimes I would extend the awning, and sit under it while it was raining, close to the edge, so that I could hold out my hand and feel the rain, but the rest of me stayed dry. A simple thing, but I found it pleasant.
Alas. my current abode has a deck, but no awning.
A nicely shaped glass will concentrate the aroma of the wine in a way that, say, a Red Solo Cup just won’t do.