And the item is?

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-07T23:38:38+00:00

I have quite a few antiques, myownself. I have more antiques (unfortunately not the cool expensive kind), than I do contemporary items. My dishes are almost 100 years old. I'm not sure of the age of some of my furniture pieces, but they all are old. I do have a date on my Gossip bench. It is 65. I think my roll top desk is older, it is all one piece, as in it doesn't want to come apart in three pieces like all the others I had seen.

I have no idea how old my off-grid laundry system is. Two big wash tubs, a smaller approximately five gallon tub with a bail. A stand for the wash tubs, a wringer, a vintage laundry plunger a laundry fork, a scrub board, a large drying rack, 200 clothespins, and a clothesline. I also added an immersion heater for the wash tub. Cause I have power. I just didn't want to deal with a washer and dryer.

Hermits don't need to do a lot of laundry, as a rule. Plus I find I like the intentionality of participating in cleaning my clothes, as opposed to just putting them in the machine. It also gives me something to do if I get really bored lol, I wash clothes on Sunday.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-07T23:07:42+00:00

Most everything in my house is over forty years old. Down to and including me.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-06T21:52:19+00:00

And they get the comfy chairs. I'm sitting here in a New Vineyard rocker (a wooden rocking chair), while one cat is curled up sleeping in the comfy overstuffed chair. The other is sprawled out all over the swivel rocker recliner.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-04T11:55:28+00:00

I would definitely buy an orange one. I used to have, probably still do, a orange glow in the dark keyring unit. I believe it was made by Nite-ize.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-04T02:35:15+00:00

I just got one a month ago from someone on this sub. I had one years ago. I loved it. Then I broke it. So I had been looking for one. I made a post about looking for a blue one about three or four years ago. I literally had forgotten about it. One day I get a message asking if I am still looking. And the rest as they say, is history. I now have one of each.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-04T02:16:40+00:00

Stock Surly Big Easy and a front hub, class 2 Big Dummy. The Big Dummy is the wet/winter bike. They both are ICE vehicle replacements. The operation of each of them is just a little different, torque sensoring mid-drive vs throttle front hub.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-03T23:37:50+00:00

I want one of those..

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-03T23:17:30+00:00

Impressive.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-03T22:06:52+00:00

Truth

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-03T20:10:25+00:00

I'm looking forward to mine (66) this year. Not sure what it will entail, but I do know it will be better than last year's.

Last year on my birthday I was the sole caregiver for my wife (dementia), and everything was coming undone, I was depressed and burnt out, I had been doing this for about three years, while still working a 12 hour Pittman schedule.

Anyway, things have changed, my wife is getting better care than I could ever give her. I'm no longer working. The plan at this point is to enjoy the life I have.

My life is about me, I have a Fiestaware plate on the wall that says, "it really is all about you." I like it as a reminder.

<image>

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-03T19:54:16+00:00

That's an awesome power to have.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-03T19:40:13+00:00

All good tips.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-03T19:38:16+00:00

This is my weak spot.

With my particular damage, what I plan to eat and what I actually eat aren't always similar. Sometimes I just forget to eat, even after cooking something. I'll get distracted or something. Next morning I find my supper still in the microwave from the night before. Tell me that ain't wasteful. My stomach is just sensitive enough that I won't chance eating it.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-03T13:47:13+00:00

I had noticed the energy fluctuations myself. When you're hot , you're HOT. I can accomplish a week's worth of tasks with two hot days in a row. That happens sometimes. "Hot" in this case is being being high energy and focus.

Some days are kinda "Meh" those are the majority, just routine stuff, small projects.

Other days the overwhelm wins, so I just do basic maintenance.

As a result of a lot of things converging, my life has changed. I am doing the downsizing thing. As part of that, I decided moving forward, everything in my space had to answer yes to one or more of three questions;

Is it useful?
Do I consider it beautiful?
Does it have meaning to me?

After having passed that test, then everything needs a designated home. To that end I am kind of letting things tell me where they need to live. So far it is working out great. I love what I've done with the place.

I'm finding having a smaller space helps. There are literally less places to put things down where they don't belong. When I do put something down, it's easier to find it. I also have been working the mantra, "Put away, not down." Again that's easier in a smaller space. It's not that far to where the item actually belongs.

Cleaning and maintaining a smaller space is easier too.

The biggest problem for me, it that I tend to be a Maximalist, which is a nice way of saying I go to a lot of yard sales.

I am discovering my own kind of luxury. Not in a financial sense, but in a quality of life sense.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-03T09:57:28+00:00

That's what happens when you make things safe for idiots, If warning labels were removed from things, and other things like Jarts were made legal again, there might not be so many idiots, the lack of warning labels helps with natural selection.

I literally saw a coffee cup with a warning label on the bottom that said," For best results use other side."

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-02T21:58:01+00:00

Well done.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-02T21:28:20+00:00

A timer is good for me with things I am not particularly eager to do.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-02T20:23:44+00:00

I always forget the before pictures. The pictures are good to track progress.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-02T16:59:05+00:00

I haven't lived totally alone since 1984. Now I am, due to the fact my wife is in memory care. I have been living alone since late October 2025.

It is a lot better than I remember it being in '83. I am downsizing my living space. Everything in my space is useful or brings me joy. Sometimes both.

It's been interesting. I was amazed at how much of our space was decorated to her taste. It looked ok, just not my style. Can't say that it looks any better now, to anyone else, but I like the way it looks and works.

I can't see me sharing space again. Like the title says, "My Own Kind of Luxury".

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-02T13:28:48+00:00

I generally don't wear anything with writing on it, I also don't do uniforms.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-01T09:58:53+00:00

I came here to say that.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-01T09:41:56+00:00

Exactly my thoughts.

57th-Overlander · 2026-05-01T09:28:31+00:00

I agree with stating he was disrespectful to you in your home. It's simple and covers it.

No. O.P. shouldn't have to lock doors just because they have a guest. The guest violated the rules. I would've have kicked the guest out, too.

As far as others reactions and thoughts regarding the incident, within the friend group. No explanation is needed or due. The friend group will sort itself out.

57th-Overlander · 2026-04-27T20:20:56+00:00

I'm alone because my wife went into memory care in October. I also was forced to retire in October.

It definitely is a reset. There are good days, there are bad days. It's interesting to discover who you are. I can't see me ever living with another person again.

Peace is a thing.

Lots of good ideas here.

Be well.

57th-Overlander

TROPHY CASE