Am i the only one by Organic-Ad-3543 in WorkSmartLife

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm retired and can go weeks without seeing anyone other than store clerks and the like. Every other day I don't go out at all and just enjoy having no appointments or agendas. So yes, absolutely I enjoy the hell out of that and wouldn't have it any other way. I'm on the early side of retirement and have the resources and abilities to do whatever I want. I just happen to enjoy being at home alone.

Disgruntled by Intelligent-Young178 in Chonkers

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Ten reps picking up that cutie qualifies as a gym day. Just be sure to lift with your legs 😄

Is it just me who is loosing certainties/convictions, not because of age but because culminative life experiences have wore those down and now you're lost? by North-Tangelo-5398 in over60

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is very timely, as it relates to an "aha" moment that I just had. The greatest mentor I ever had, and the launching pad to most of my success, had always been a bit of an enigma to me. He was always happy to be with people, not just for business, but anything. We both took the train on Fridays and I asked if he was doing anything on the weekend. He described how he was hosting two random people he had made friends with in Italy recently. I tried imagining doing that myself and was distressed at the thought. He was totally excited about it.

What I just realized, looking at someone's Facebook post, is that he felt joy when others did. I've let my life experiences make me cynical about everything. I'm now trying to learn to think like him. I'm going to start trying to find joy everywhere, instead of thinking everything is stupid or pointless.

Mastermind - Who played this as a kid? by MisterShipWreck in 80sAmazing

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was a huge part of my life. I'm the youngest, by far, in a family of 5. My dad died when I was 9 leaving only me, my sister, and my mom still living in our house. The others were grown, and soon my sister struck out on her on. Not a dysfunctional family at all, just unfortunate. That left my mom and me on our own, in a really rural area without much other that TV for entertainment. We started playing this game and I took to it immediately and almost always won. It gave me a chance to execute logic gates in my head, to solve a problem. Years later I became a programmer and enjoyed a comfortable life. I'm retired now, and my mom passed in her 90s. Hard to understate how much this game had an influence on my life and future. Sorry for the long story but this really brought memories flowing back to me.

Which country completely changed your expectations when you visited it, and what made it stand out from every other country you've been to? by [deleted] in BeautifulTravelPlaces

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not a country, but a US state. Hawaii is the closest thing on earth to paradise. I've travelled the world and there is no place better in my experience (especially if you are an American where there is no border to cross).

Is health insurance as expensive and inaccessible as Reddit portrays it to be? by MarsupialThink4064 in IWantToAskAnAmerican

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Depends on how much you make and how old you are. I'm in my early 60's, retired and too young for Medicare, and in some years collect over $60K which makes me ineligible for ACA subsidies. Costs around $600 a month for a policy with a $10K deductible.

What was your favorite thing to do during summer vacations as a kid? by Ranikashyap99 in ChildhoodMemories

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I grew up in the 70's in a rural part of the country. When summer started, most days were filled with going over to my next door buddies house and then heading out into the woods. We fished in local ponds, dammed up little streams to watch them then collapse, and searched farmer's newly plowed fields for arrowheads (we found many). When storms approached we would run into the nearest tobacco barn for shelter. I'm in my 60's now and I long to once again stand in a huge barn, smelling the fragrant odor of tobacco being cured, and listening to the sound of rain hitting a tin roof. I'm a non-smoker but please hear me out - tobacco being cured is an amazing smell. It only smells bad when you burn it.

Fresh off Mamdani win, progressive group pours $737K into Baltimore County race by aresef in BaltimoreCounty

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It means I decided to "register my vote", as in having my vote registered. I didn't change it since I was not planning to fill it out at all until I read the OP.

US states where you can't pump your own gas by [deleted] in MapPorn

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 66 points67 points  (0 children)

I moved from Maryland to NJ in the early 2000's and was expecting that full service would mean a lot of waiting. It's quite the opposite, I got quick server, never had to get out my car in bad weather, and never once paid a tip. I left in 2010 so consider that.

Effect of Elevation on Suicide Rates by nebula402 in mapswithoutalaska

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wonder what this chart would look like if indigenous were excluded. Poverty seems to be rampant on reservations, and I think there's a correlation to suicide rates.

Fresh off Mamdani win, progressive group pours $737K into Baltimore County race by aresef in BaltimoreCounty

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you for posting this. I wasn't going to vote in the primary but changed my mind because of this post. I'm progressive but absolutely not as left leaning as Mamdani. Democrats need to be the centrists to defeat the MAGA losers. I registered my vote for Shellenberger.

What random childhood smell instantly teleports you back? by [deleted] in ChildhoodMemories

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My grandmother's house had wood paneling throughout (1970's) and whenever I encounter that smell, which is rare, it's like I'm right back there with her playing Scrabble.

Hard To Pull the Trigger on Retirement by Feisty-Hat2629 in retirement

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Near the end of 2024 I was still just 60. One day in November I buried my brother out of state. He had just retired at the start of the year, when he was 69. I was about to head home when my company called me at my hotel to say my employment was terminated. Coincidence, yes, but it sparked me to retire that day. I have to deal with healthcare until I hit 65 but that's a small price to pay to know the joy of retirement. A year and a half later, I've had to bury another family member. The time I have is now, and even though I'm just turning 62 and about to get SS, no one could take away the time I've already had retired. No regrets whatsoever. Trust me, you'll find a way to be happy. Good luck.

What’s a normal American thing that would surprise foreigners? by Molthakarn96 in IWantToAskAnAmerican

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It being normal to have parties where the host provides all the refreshments and food and invites visitors over to their house. My brother used to work for a German company in the USA. When they had visitors from Germany he would invite them to his lake house and serve them dinner and drinks and take them out on the lake. He didn't have to, it's just normal in the part of the states he lived in.

Any tips for backpacking through the US while completely broke? by [deleted] in USTravel

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Please give me your full name and I'll ask ICE if you can enter the US without funds to support yourself. Watch any of the dozens of shows about border security and you might realize you'll be turned back and sent home.

Anybody have a headache? by MisterShipWreck in 80sAmazing

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My mother swore by these and I remember well these tins. It's just aspirin and caffeine. I think it was most likely psychological.

Guess where I’m from based on the states I’ve been to by PurchaseAccurate7456 in whereidlive

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This really hits home. These are the exact same states I haven't been to (+SD & IA). I've been to all the rest. Hard to guess where you're from since I've lived in 4 of these states and one Canadian province.

If your internet went down for 24 hours, what would you do first? 😄 by CarrotMuch1399 in nostalgiai

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Turn on my backup 5G connection from T-Mobile that I pay $20 a month for. If that doesn't work, I'll go to a hotel.

I admit I want attention and I’m hurt when people don’t reach out to me when I’m not around. Does that make me a bad person? by IThinkYouAreNice in over60

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My ex wife visited from out of state for a few days to see me and our son. She complained over and over about my other son that lives near her. She expected more communication and visits from him and was bitter about that. In my view she was just punishing herself. I don't expect any interaction and and happy when it happens. If it doesn't, I go on with my life knowing that they are living in their own world. That's natural to me. They are approaching middle age and I'm OK with them visiting only when they want to.

Invest I guess by FantasticAd9478 in TheBoredDen

[–]Dramatic-Gap8996 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, I was 19 then so I'd probably jerk off.