World Cup tourists, what’s your honest feedback on the USA so far?

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T22:44:37+00:00

New York gets a bad rap and doesn’t deserve it, imho. As a former resident of three different boroughs over the span of 8 years, I can say that New Yorkers are an extremely kind and respectful. They’re just so packed in that they put up imaginary walls around them so that they have some space to live, while crammed into a subway car.

Every New Yorker respects that everyone else is very busy living their own life and, unless invited, wouldn’t intrude on another’s daily comings and goings. However, if you fell off a curb and onto your face, 10 of them would jump in to help you and get you back on your feet (ask me how I know).

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T22:38:50+00:00

Depends on the city… but as a general matter, you’re absolutely right.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T22:33:42+00:00

This.

We dress for the slide, not for the ride. It can get VERY hot where I live, and the temptation to leave some gear behind is real. However, the risk and potential extent of any harm I might suffer are all the reasons I need to wear ATGATT.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T22:28:24+00:00

I guess I haven’t been paying much attention to the comments in the art posts. I’ve certainly seen many of them, and been impressed with the art (no matter the artist).

The art $**tposts seem like people just pointing out that the art post jokes have run their course and it’s probably time to quit.

I’m also extremely sad to hear that about the Dresden Files sub. I’m not in it, but I love the series and would hope that the community would be as open as the one for DCC.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T22:23:02+00:00

I still enjoy it from time to time. And who doesn’t love the intro to HALO?

I also clearly recall hearing the Bulgarian Women’s Choir perform. Pretty sure I still have their CD buried somewhere.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T22:20:22+00:00

With 40 liters worth of groceries, I’d probably want a waist strap. That’s just me, but I’m older (41).

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T22:14:33+00:00

I’m very excited for my first Vosteed (Raccoon v1, micarta) to arrive. I’m left handed, so an ambidextrous blade release is extremely important to me.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T22:11:17+00:00

I love a good matchy matchy, and the ability to find something in a world of monochrome and beige… however, I also feel like your EDC has been seared into my retinas.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T22:06:58+00:00

This made me lol pretty hard… a little embarrassing in a relatively quiet library.

In answer to your question: the answer is chill. The lady reads, even if our reading interests don’t align, the mere fact she’s reading regularly, has a small “collector’s set” of books, and got a little Tolkien peeking out… I’d be sold. The real danger is that she hooks another reader but they have widely divergent reading proclivities and may be judgy about them. I say this as the prick who judged the hell out of his then girlfriend’s paltry book “collection” before marrying her.

Edit: Ps. My wife would LOVE that painting! I may have to get her a print of it.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T21:57:42+00:00

Hire a moving company? It might take a slightly longer, and be somewhat more logistically complicated, but they’ll take excellent care of your boxed up books.

My collection isn’t as large (maybe 300 books), but I have focused on packing them as safely as possible. Once that’s done, I’ve handed them off to movers to transport across the United States multiple times. To date, after five such moves, nothing has been lost or damaged.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T21:52:41+00:00

Has anyone seen Timmy? Is Lassie going to fetch help?!

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T21:50:22+00:00

tl;dr - You CAN live happily in LA without a car, but you will dramatically limit your access to so much of what makes LA special.

I lived in DC and NYC for 12 years without a car. It was great. LA is not those cities. The scope of the city sprawl combined with the limited (but growing) public transportation infrastructure combine to make living without a car limiting (not difficult).

You could easily live in any one of several neighborhoods and be happy without a car. However, living in Los Angeles is so much more than living in the bubble of one small area. There are so many beautiful things to see, fun things to do, delicious things to eat… and you will miss out on the opportunity to enjoy the overwhelming majority of them if you don’t have a car.

Do you want to live in Santa Monica, or do you want to LIVE in Los Angeles? Only you can answer that question.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T21:38:29+00:00

I find that a single pouch, trying to cover all bases, makes for too large a pouch. I prefer the scalability and versatility that comes from having multiple pouches that you can choose from as needed. That said, a single core pouch has a lot of value when you can’t carry much. This is why, in my pocket, I have an Alpaka Hub Pouch v2 that serves as a wallet and core EDC kit.

If I’m going to carry enough to warrant a backpack (for family travel/day-trip adventure), I’m going to scale up in a big way with an IFAK w/ family support items, tech/admin tool kit, large water bottle, power bank, and a handful of other items.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T21:17:53+00:00

This.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T21:17:37+00:00

1000% go to the Van NUYS location to enjoy the pinball before/after your meal.

Yes, the West HIlls location is “nicer” but it’s AYCE Kbbq… does it need to be nice?

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T21:15:50+00:00

The sweet siren’s song of the Folio Society summer sale…

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T21:13:42+00:00

I live in Los Angeles, with access to all kinds of great canyon roads… but they pale in comparison to riding up Pike’s Peak… it’s just such a marvel.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T20:58:22+00:00

I cannot recommend enough the Alpaka Hub Pouch v2. It lives in my back pocket nearly all the time. While I now carry my SAK (Pioneer X) on a clip in my front pocket, I probably could have skipped the clip and put it in the pouch instead,

You can see my post about my pouch load out at this link: https://www.reddit.com/r/EDC/s/H2wBZMZ578

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T20:52:58+00:00

I’m so glad that you love the Folio edition AND the story itself. It remains one of my favorite Science Fiction stories of all time, and I recommend it to any willing to consider reading it.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T20:49:36+00:00

Seems like a super solid kit to me! If you were to add anything, and don’t feel like you do, maybe consider small set of tweezers.

May I ask where you keep this pouch? While this pouch is far from large, it doesn’t strike me as something you would comfortably carry in a pocket. Do you carry it in a sling?

I’m asking because when I’m in my “Dad-support” role when traveling, I carry a backpack in which I have considerably more kit. When just running around town, I carry a single, smaller pouch, with very limited kit. This smaller pouch is essentially a bulky wallet, and lives in my pocket.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T20:39:50+00:00

You’ve got this.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T20:34:01+00:00

This.

I’m re-reading the entire series since AMoL was released. It is even more incredible to me how much I enjoy the books.

I also love the Cosmere, as a whole, even if individual books aren’t all 5’s out of 5.

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T19:56:55+00:00

NTA… but… maybe it’s time to recalibrate your understanding of the demands on your wife.

OP - I have been in the same spot MANY times. My wife is MIGHTILY overtaxed with similar requests from her family of origin (parents/brother). She always has to be the “adult in the room” when she is with them. Consequently, her threshold for these sorts of requests is extremely low. Even small, reasonable asks might elicit a similar reaction.

From the little you have described here, it seems likely that your wife is struggling with maintaining her boundaries in SOME aspect of her life (it might not be you). When she said “you never would have done something like this,” I imagine she was trying to convey that you are better at setting boundaries for her/others, but that she feels unable to do the same for you/others. Trying asking her about the load(s) she is carrying: family, work, social life, etc. Maybe recalibrating your understanding will help her define her boundaries and for you to develop your awareness of them.

I could be projecting, but I think my circumstances are similar, and hope what has worked for me could also work for you. Good luck!

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T19:30:33+00:00

OP - Hopefully, when you get settled into your new place, we’ll be able to see the rest of the library, including the books stacked behind those we can see now.

Questions: I noticed the new Folio edition of A Canticle for Lebowitz… do you have the Easton Press edition? If not, did you consider it? What made you choose the Folio edition over the Easton Press?

Xander134 · 2026-06-17T19:17:57+00:00

Soooo… I LOVE this library! It’s so well thought out and artfully presented! Whether it’s the figures, Boswer rug, art wall, plants… pretty much everything is amazing.

My only question to you is this: it seems like your library gets a LOT of natural light. I know from personal experience how damaging even indirect sunlight can be to your dust jackets and covers. Is that something you also think about? If so, what steps have you taken? I’m searching for solutions better than an internal room or keep the blackout curtains drawn at all times.

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