I'm not the coolest person in the world, but I know what I like. And I don't hide from them even if they're a bit lame. However, I've recently realised there are many things which, having been lame in the past, are now cool I've jumped into my thirties.
Do you empathise with any of these?
1. Doing the laundry. I love the smell, the organisation, and folding clothes tidies my brain as well as the t-shirts and pants.
2. No hangovers on a Sunday morning. I haven’t had a killer hangover since 2013 and I am glad. Sure, I still drink, **UPDATE I've quit** but it’s more the toll of the late night which affects me more than the alcohol content anyway. When I was 18 I remember thinking 'I can't imagine not enjoying clubbing every weekend'. How things change!
Do you empathise with any of these?
1. Doing the laundry. I love the smell, the organisation, and folding clothes tidies my brain as well as the t-shirts and pants.
2. No hangovers on a Sunday morning. I haven’t had a killer hangover since 2013 and I am glad. Sure, I still drink, **UPDATE I've quit** but it’s more the toll of the late night which affects me more than the alcohol content anyway. When I was 18 I remember thinking 'I can't imagine not enjoying clubbing every weekend'. How things change!
Not actually my cutlery 3. A full cutlery drawer. This means the dishwasher (if I’m at my parents’ place) is empty – putting the clean stuff away is not a job I enjoy! – or the dishes have been done at home. Yay, thanks husband! We have a lot of cutlery, so we can go a while without washing it, but it’s nice to see a full complement of utensils. A happy kitchen!
4. Paying off bills. I hate having debt, so a clean credit card statement and no bills due is a good thing. Boring, but good in the long-run.
5. Family parties – of all kinds, for all ages. Family has become more and more important to me over the last 5-10 years. We had 4 family members pass away between 2009 and 2013 and it’s no surprise that it’s brought one or two of our relatives closer to my immediate family. Some family relationships could of course be better (the clue is in the word ‘family’!), but family remains key.
6. Pay day – never really lame, but I think I have more interesting things to spend it on, day by day. It's not a huge salary, but it beats getting £4.25 / hour as a 14 year old Saturday girl! I am always grateful to have a job, and one I enjoy at that, let alone one which allows me to live / travel / save.
7. Keeping fit and controlling what I eat. I wasn’t a fan of PE at school and it took me a while to find my niche in sport (classes!) but now I love the feeling being fit and having a slimmer figure gives me. *** UPDATE I've lost 4kg since I wrote this originally! ***
8. Having friends who are old enough to be your (grand)parents – good mates don’t mind an age gap.
9. Reading (especially paperbacks!) – ebooks are not for me – I’ve read three and much prefer paperbacks. Reading has always been in my life and I’m loving the fact it’s an acceptable and longed for way to spend the evening among a lot of my peers. It wasn’t cool when I was a kid, but it sure is almost a treat now!
10. A full tank of petrol. My car almost feels more alive when it's wangled a fresh £40 out of me!
My actual slippers 11. Slippers. I've been enlightened. My feet may not feel cold, but I have it on good authority they're like ice blocks when under the duvet. I took their advice and am now a slipper convert! Turns out I just don't feel the cold, but donning a pair of snuggly booties protects your toes from stubbing, if nothing else.
12. A mortgage. A commitment until you retire (or more), significant sums of money changing hands, and real responsibility for property (and potentially, investment). Most people in their early-20's or teen years shrink at the thought. And I did. I was so into traveling and feeling a bit free-spirited, I couldn't imagine 'settling down' until I reached my late 20's. Now I have a mortgage, and a house we love. And if living abroad calls again (which it probably will), the plan is to rent it out and live off the rent. Cool, eh?
13. Walking. You should have heard the groans when we were dragged out on a walk as kids. Now my husband and I love tramping around somewhere new at the weekends, only improved by our newly acquired dog. Meet Chumi!
12. A mortgage. A commitment until you retire (or more), significant sums of money changing hands, and real responsibility for property (and potentially, investment). Most people in their early-20's or teen years shrink at the thought. And I did. I was so into traveling and feeling a bit free-spirited, I couldn't imagine 'settling down' until I reached my late 20's. Now I have a mortgage, and a house we love. And if living abroad calls again (which it probably will), the plan is to rent it out and live off the rent. Cool, eh?
13. Walking. You should have heard the groans when we were dragged out on a walk as kids. Now my husband and I love tramping around somewhere new at the weekends, only improved by our newly acquired dog. Meet Chumi!
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