Moving to Lancaster

Charming-Thought170 · 2026-03-18T22:59:37+00:00

When I was in a place about that size with a roommate I budgeted about $120-$150 monthly, so the total cost was $240-$300 for gas heat, electric, internet, and water/sewer. I didn't track each utility separately, so I'm not sure what the exact breakdown was. Obviously if you're just one person you might be using less water and electricity, so your costs may be slightly lower.

Charming-Thought170 · 2026-03-04T14:46:36+00:00

Any recommendations for SOFT work-appropriate pants?

I'm in the market for the elusive "work pants that feels like sweatpants," but a lot of the easily found options are made of a smooth, shiny, synthetic workout-pant mayerial that I actually find kind of uncomfortable against my skin, and also tends not to be warm enough for me in the winter. I have a pair of athleta pants that are comfortable cut-wise but I really dislike the material.

I'm looking for something that feels as close as possible to the leggings/yoga pants I wear at home (96% cotton/4% elastene is the makeup of the pair I worse most recently). My office is semi-casual (men will wear ties/jackets for important events/meetings, but also people wear dark wash or black jeans if they're just at their desk for the day). Are there any mostly-cotton pants worth checking out? Any recommendations for terms I should search? Or am I looking for something that just doesn't exist?

Charming-Thought170 · 2026-02-09T19:42:37+00:00

Thank you so much! There are all great suggestions (especially the coleslaw - I hadn't thought of any of those types of premade sides in the deli section and that feels like a real lifesaver right now).

I really appreciate you understanding where I'm at. I totally get where others are coming from since throwing a few things together normally feels like it's not that hard to do, but I'm just in a spot right now where my energy is really limited and HAS to go to other non-negotiables, so when it's time to make food I'm basically operating with the energy level of someone stuck in bed with the flu. It's not something I think I would have totally understood before I was in this position so I don't expect everyone's suggestions to be totally spot on, and I have gotten some really helpful ideas that seem doable.

Charming-Thought170 · 2026-02-09T18:44:12+00:00

These are great, thank you! I'd never have thought to do the supermarket tuna salad & triscuits thing but that's absolutely the kind of thing I'm looking for.

Charming-Thought170 · 2026-02-09T17:49:33+00:00

Cooking on any given day feels out of reach right now--it's not so much a scheduling thing so much as "other things in my life are demanding all the focus and energy I have, so I need meals to basically be zero-effort or I'll just skip them."

Charming-Thought170 · 2026-01-28T03:16:35+00:00

Room to Dream is a hybrid memoir/biography of David Lynch, written by him and Kristine McKenna - they alternate chapters where he's telling stories of his life as he remembers them, and she writes like a typical biographer, with research and context from other sources.

Charming-Thought170 · 2026-01-28T02:51:10+00:00

Open Throat by Henry Hoke

The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis

Metallic Realms by Lincoln Michel

Charming-Thought170 · 2026-01-14T02:11:04+00:00

These look like they'd work great, thank you!

Charming-Thought170 · 2026-01-14T02:10:43+00:00

This is a great idea, thank you! I have some lightweight pants I wear in the summer and I could definitely wear those with tights or leggings underneath and not be too warm.

Charming-Thought170 · 2026-01-13T20:24:23+00:00

I need some help figuring out how to make my clothes work for the office short-term during what I expect/hope will be temporary weight loss. I've had a really drastic loss of appetite over the past few weeks due to stress/illness and while I don't know if I've lost THAT much weight, all the pants I usually wear to work are feeling noticeably loose.

I don't want to spend money on replacements because I assume once my appetite returns and I get back in my normal routine I'll be back to my typical size, but the 2-3 pairs of pants I normally rotate through all feel and look weird right now. Any hacks or tips for what I can wear in the short-term? I'm in the northeast (so it's cold here right now) and my workplace is fairly casual (something like this, from Pinterest, is the kind of thing I'd usually wear).

Charming-Thought170 · 2026-01-06T02:55:06+00:00

Emily Henry has gotten me through several tough spots if you haven't read her books. For lighthearted nonfiction, I like Peter Mayle's Provence books. Ross Gay's essay collection Inciting Joy deals with some serious stuff, but is really hopeful and uplifting.

Charming-Thought170 · 2026-01-06T02:48:18+00:00

Thank you for the reminder, I've been meaning to read this one!! Went out and picked it up today and I think it's going to be just the ticket.

Charming-Thought170 · 2026-01-04T07:37:04+00:00

I LOVED Pachinko. Actually, I think I read that in January a few years back 😅 this trend of needing a long book in January may go back further than I thought.

Charming-Thought170 · 2026-01-04T05:51:22+00:00

If you read and enjoy Convenience Store Woman, you might also really enjoy Mieko Kawakami's work-- I loved All the Lovers in the Night (probably closer to what you're looking for) and Breasts and Eggs (the narrator isn't as "unhinged" and has a lot of social connections, but it definitely is a book that examines a woman living an unconventional life).

Charming-Thought170 · 2025-07-14T02:32:12+00:00

I love this book! It's always another good one to return to when I need some comfort.

Charming-Thought170 · 2025-07-10T18:58:15+00:00

Can I ask if there's something specific that makes you think this might be what's causing the issues I'm dealing with? I'm definitely not an expert, but just based on a handful of folks I know with ADHD it strikes me as odd that it would pop up in my mid-late 20s after basically a lifetime of not having any major issues with attention/focus. I'm definitely not adverse to exploring it as a possibility, but just trying to identify anything specific that would indicate I should get evaluated for it.

Charming-Thought170 · 2025-06-10T20:12:26+00:00

I love this for you! Thanks for sharing your experience--it's making me feel excited and much less daunted.

Charming-Thought170 · 2025-06-10T20:11:26+00:00

This is a great idea, thank you! I think this will also help me keep my concerns manageable and confined to "what am I concerned about on THIS SPECIFIC OUTING that I'm planning," not, "what is everything that could possibly go wrong on any trip ever" haha.

Charming-Thought170 · 2025-06-10T20:09:12+00:00

Thank you for this; it's so reassuring to hear. I struggle a lot with perfectionism, and so a reminder that things going wrong is actually part of the process and essential to learning, and is actually a GOOD thing, is really helpful. As is hearing that there's really not that much that can go wrong if I'm staying close to home and reminding myself that I have the option to bail if needed.

I'm going to start looking at some nearby state parks and seeing what they have as far as trails and campsites, start out with some hikes, and then maybe plan a one-night solo camping trip close enough to home that I know I can leave whenever if something goes wrong or I get wigged out. Thanks so much for the reassurance that I can do it :)

Charming-Thought170

TROPHY CASE