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I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

theguardian.com

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Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#211

Post by nessex »

auslegung wrote: post #147
nessex wrote: post #94

I've found a lot of freedom in similar decisions. Not sure I could take it to the same level, but even just having a small set of meals to eat every week makes shopping, cooking and planning around expiry dates so much easier. Clothes can be similarly hacked such that everything goes together and every combination is something you are comfortable wearing, leaving you never needing to consider what to wear. I've optim…

> I'd love to find other areas of my life that can be similarly optimized. I have hope for bill management services to take the annoyance out of juggling payments etc., and roboinvestors or similar automated financial services. You’re probably familiar with auto bill pay (I think most services have it, and many banks offer it as well), and index fund investing with automatic transfers, so I’m guessing those don’t sol…

Yeah absolutely, that's kind of what I'm talking about. Though even then, managing different contract durations across many different companies for many different bills each month is annoying, and there are companies that can do that part for you as well. Haven't ever tried it, nor checked the cost, but it sounds like something that might be beneficial to not worry about. They can send me a summary each month to make sure I'm not spending too much.

The index fund investing with scheduled transfers is exactly what I meant by automated financial services. I probably micro-manage it a little too much right now for no real benefit.

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#212

Post by thaumasiotes »

geocrasher wrote: post #199
aniforprez wrote: post #195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Eating something different every day is not "an American obsession". Heck most people I know would want change and something different in their routine of food. I personally have 10-12 breakfast recipes that I cycle through and regularly try stuff I find online

I'm American, and I have to disagree. I have the same thing for breakfast every day, and I love it. I usually have the same thing for lunch, too. It's convenient and I change it up just a little now and then. For dinner, my daughter and I do different things. I think that embracing this is a good thing. It's comfortable. It's safe, and I am content. On the weekends I do change it up too, but during the week, I find m…

I tried eating a particular dish every day for a while. (To the exclusion of other foods.) I didn't get tired of it -- I loved it and still do. But I had to stop because, after a while of this, I would still be hungry after eating a large meal. My stomach would be physically full, but I'd be hungry anyway.

I'm still not sure what the problem was. It was a dish basically consisting of lentils, onions, and shredded chicken, spiced heavily; I'd eat it spread over bread.

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#213

Post by culturestate »

wombatmobile wrote: post #192
culturestate wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I literally moved to China to try and find whatever I was missing at the time; a decade, four other countries, and countless adrenaline-seeking excursions later, some part of me is still searching. It may not apply to everyone, or even a majority of people who go out of their way for something new , but I know exactly what the parent comment means.

> I know exactly what the parent comment means. Well, firstly, there was a misunderstanding in the parent comment, but ignoring that, I understand you are saying that you derive enjoyment from new experiences, which you have actively sought out for at least a decade, and don't enjoy the company of people who are not like that. But do you mean to say that you wouldn't enjoy meeting an old Welsh farmer who is not like…

No, it's nothing like that. I was referring to this...

> people frantically trying to experience "new" things as an effort to quiet the constant agitation of their souls

...and pointing out that there are different kinds of, I guess, opportunistic openness. One is the normal, well-adjusted kind where you say sure, let's try some Chinese food or hey, I've never been to Wales, should we go to Cardiff this weekend? It's the Michael Palin version.

The other, darker one - the one I had and which the grandparent was referring to - is the kind where you're constantly looking for the next thing or place or whatever that will make you feel content with life. It's not about experience for experience's sake, it's about trying to find something, anything, that will soothe your soul. This is the Anthony Bourdain version.

It's not that I wouldn't want to go to Wales or meet the farmer; I would, of course. The difference is in the motivation and the satisfaction I would derive from it.

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#214

Post by [deleted] »

alisonatwork wrote: post #146
nessex wrote: post #94

I've found a lot of freedom in similar decisions. Not sure I could take it to the same level, but even just having a small set of meals to eat every week makes shopping, cooking and planning around expiry dates so much easier. Clothes can be similarly hacked such that everything goes together and every combination is something you are comfortable wearing, leaving you never needing to consider what to wear. I've optim…

I completely agree. I recommend decreasing your gadgets to just a phone (for when you go out) and a tablet or laptop for home. That is, no TV, no stereo, no games console. Assuming you live on your own, you can do all the same things you did before, just move your laptop screen to a comfortable distance. I suppose you could buy headphones if you also want loud audio, but personally I prefer to go out to a bar or nigh…

[deleted]

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#215

Post by User23 »

anonymousiam wrote: post #56

It's an inspiring article, but it left me wondering what is his exit plan. He's got nobody to pass the farm on to, and his sister is dependent upon his care. At 72 and with his medical history, he will not be able to continue much longer.

My understanding is that in the UK if you have no heirs your property reverts to the crown.

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#216

Post by nessex »

snoshy wrote: post #197
alisonatwork wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I completely agree. I recommend decreasing your gadgets to just a phone (for when you go out) and a tablet or laptop for home. That is, no TV, no stereo, no games console. Assuming you live on your own, you can do all the same things you did before, just move your laptop screen to a comfortable distance. I suppose you could buy headphones if you also want loud audio, but personally I prefer to go out to a bar or nigh…

That's certainly one kind of minimalism, but I think it goes well beyond what GP intended. While your comment and lifestyle seems earnest, it's a bit too far for most given the GP context, in the sense that rather than minimizing the time taken to do routine things, it optimizes many of them out entirely to the point that it does not appear practicable for most (ex. mattress being the only furniture). Such things can…

Right, it's about eliminating the mundane parts, not about having nothing in my life. It's a balance that will be different for everyone.

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#217

Post by [deleted] »

birdyrooster wrote: post #206
fma wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not what he's saying. He's saying that those who want to experience things...don't. People drive from far away probably just to stay there for a few seconds and call it a day, while sitting in their car. Probably take a selfie and say they were there to experience the cuckoos...but really didn't. That's why he's sad for them.

That’s not what he saying either. He’s saying that cuckoos don’t care if you watch them, because the sounds they make aren’t for those people who pass by. The cuckoos are for cuckoos and he is a sad one indeed.

[deleted]

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#218

Post by Rapzid »

birdyrooster wrote: post #206
fma wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not what he's saying. He's saying that those who want to experience things...don't. People drive from far away probably just to stay there for a few seconds and call it a day, while sitting in their car. Probably take a selfie and say they were there to experience the cuckoos...but really didn't. That's why he's sad for them.

That’s not what he saying either. He’s saying that cuckoos don’t care if you watch them, because the sounds they make aren’t for those people who pass by. The cuckoos are for cuckoos and he is a sad one indeed.

> As told to Kiran Sidhu

Who knows what he really said. Not us.

Re: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years

#219

Post by nessex »

theonething wrote: post #145
nessex wrote: post #94

I've found a lot of freedom in similar decisions. Not sure I could take it to the same level, but even just having a small set of meals to eat every week makes shopping, cooking and planning around expiry dates so much easier. Clothes can be similarly hacked such that everything goes together and every combination is something you are comfortable wearing, leaving you never needing to consider what to wear. I've optim…

May I ask which frozen meal delivery service you use?

I'm in Japan so I use nosh.jp. It's decent and surprisingly cheap, not much more than food from the supermarket here which is expensive regardless.
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