I’ve learned that although a good portion of my life focused on friends and social gatherings that I’m more happy without those things. Everything quickly fell into focus for me.
I learned that hard-core ex-convicts really can cut hair and they will do it for $10 and do it quite quit well as long as you listen to their horrific stories and don’t rat them out. I have had two of these black-market stylists now (both male) and they are a lot more interesting than the Sports Clip women and way cheaper. I think it is a viable business model.
It’s true, John Wayne toilet paper really does not take any shit. Just like the Duke, himself.
[stern mommy voice] If you’re going to drink in front of us, I hope you brought enough for everybody! [/stern mommy voice]
~VOW
Even though I’m still working full time hours and my wife and I are also running our business, not having anything to do or anyplace to go in our spare time lead us to a new experience:
The boredom boink.
It’s in addition to regular romps and just as good.
Who needs to go out to dinner, wine tasting, the movies, or a bar anyway? Long live the lockdown!
Whatever it was I used to do after work every day was invaluable to my mental health!
I work from home already, always have. I live alone with my dogs. Basically quarantine already right? Turns out all the little mundane things I used to do during the week - shopping, dog park, gym, doctor appointments, meetings - were a big part of my life and I miss them. I actually had to take a day off work last week to get my shit together, because just working and doing nothing else was driving me nuts.
I learned that when I retire, I can easily occupy myself for hours on end with my power tools and various types of lumber. Made a couple end tables for the new deck, I now have orders for 12 more. Don’t know when I will make them, I had to return to work a few weeks ago.
I found that my 13 year-old with a $30 clippers and a youtube video can give me a haircut that matches the ones I pay $25 for at SportsClips.
Shaving your head means you never have to worry about Supercuts.
That shaving my beard into a goatee makes me look like silenus. (I grew it back.)
I’ve learned that as charming as those Tiny House shows are, I’m really, really glad we do not live in one.
I’ve learned that staying home full-time can lead to much higher grocery bills (well, at least at first as we stocked up what we could) that more than offset the lower restaurant bills.
I’ve learned that 4 people home 24/7 poses such a load of dishes that we need to run the dishwasher 2 times, sometimes 3, every 24 hours.
I’ve learned I’ve got a bit of food anxiety going on - to the point where we’ve jam-paced the fridge freezer and the spare in the basement and I’m eyeing how to make room for another in the garage!
I’ve learned that I could easily go a week without leaving the house - and now that I’m supposed to do just that, I WANNA GO OUT.
I learned I was just looking for an excuse to grow my hair. Maybe I will keep it long. (Is there an age limit for men having long hair - without being weird?)
I. Am. So. TEMPTED!
~VOW
First-timer advice: Take it down all over with a beard trimmer. Get as close as you can. Then take it down to skin with a Mach 3 or Fusion razor. Short strokes in multiple directions until smooth. Apply lotion.
Repeat as necessary. I shave my head 3 times a week in the shower using a razor and gel from Harry’s. No muss, no fuss.
I’ve found hiding from all the people noise with my headphones on and music blaring gives me the worst headache, evah! Oh, to be young enough that loud music wouldn’t bother me.
I learned that hair in the bathtub drains is my job. These losers will not do it. There’s lots of hair in this house.
I’ve learned that little boys do not ever flush.
I’ve learned that laundry day can be 3 days too long. The cats like it tho’.
The limit is not age; it’s amount of baldness. Baldness and long hair do NOT go well together. I discovered this at age 37.
I’m gonna end up with a pony tail. I’m 59. Fuck it. Least of my concerns.
Otherwise, I just work from home now and don’t put 50 miles on my car every day. :shrug: We are already isolated naturally. Rarely go out to eat or bars. We play more chess and cards now and oddly watch less TV.
Get up WAY before the sun (better internet speed and using extra early hour data allowance), work, eat, walk dogs, play cards or chess read a bit and go to bed. Not much of a change really.
Same age, and I had a pony tail up until about a year ago. I haven’t had a haircut since, and it’s growing back.