Congratulations on your 1 yr sobriety. I know how difficult that can be. I have alcoholism in both my Wife’s and my family. We didn’t get the gene but my Son did and he struggles with it.
The simple life?
- Thread starter Westtown Willy
- Start date
It's a "Goimu", from Amazon. I don't know one from another, they all look the same to me, I picked this one because it had the smallest footprint (at 70 inches deep) and fit perfectly into the intended spot, most of the others were in the 80 inch range and would've caused problems... I can't give it much of a review as I've only had it for a little over a month but in that time it seems to work as intended, can't imagine how it could get much better. In my very brief stint last year with the trainer I used their professional grade one, smoother for sure, but that thing probably cost a couple grand compared to the $500 & change I paid for this thing... I just looked at the Ritfit on Amazon, looks to be very similar
Thanks, I wish I could say it was some noble self-improvement thing but the truth is it really happened by accident, I just went with it... in hindsight a very happy accident indeed.
One additional note I forgot to mention & this one would probably qualify as @Zorba approved. From what I’ve seen over the years, many people no longer live on planet earth, while their body may be here, their mind & soul are floating around in cyberspace, in a constant state of connection to the WWW in one form or another. It’s driven by a constant need for distraction to avoid whatever noise is bouncing around in their head when faced with silence.
I walk roughly 5 miles/100 minutes per day, I’ve found over the years that doing that in silence rather than with headphones to be far superior for clearing out the head, almost all my best ideas have come to me while walking.
Short of walking, the rest of the day I’d be bombarded with technology, music, computer, tv, phone, whatever, nearly constant noise.
Earlier this year I decided to try something new, total technology blackout for two hours each day. Anything that runs on electricity or batteries is a no-go. Approved activities are reading, cooking, any form of physical activity and so forth. It’s been an eye-opening experience, and probably my favorite two hours of each day. It’s hard to push the envelop on this while still working, there’s simply no way around it, but when I do retire the two hours will be greatly extended.
Also stopped following the news/politics from all sources, which may have been the single greatest source of stress and anxiety. Not knowing what's happening minute by minute with the chuckleheads in DC is a fantastic way to live.
Anyway sometime after I began the cyber-blackouts I stumbled onto this video which I immediately found credible. It gave me the idea of extending the two hours in the here & now, particularly in the car. I’ve never driven an inch without music or some kind of talk radio, but I gave driving in silence a go, I had very low expectations and figured it wouldn’t last more than a day; it’s been a few months now & is the preferred way of driving. I think this guy nails what I’m saying:
If I could give any useful advice to the human race, it would be simple: try disconnecting, go outside, touch some grass, breathe some air, talk to some three-dimensional people, it just might remind you of who you really are.
I walk roughly 5 miles/100 minutes per day, I’ve found over the years that doing that in silence rather than with headphones to be far superior for clearing out the head, almost all my best ideas have come to me while walking.
Short of walking, the rest of the day I’d be bombarded with technology, music, computer, tv, phone, whatever, nearly constant noise.
Earlier this year I decided to try something new, total technology blackout for two hours each day. Anything that runs on electricity or batteries is a no-go. Approved activities are reading, cooking, any form of physical activity and so forth. It’s been an eye-opening experience, and probably my favorite two hours of each day. It’s hard to push the envelop on this while still working, there’s simply no way around it, but when I do retire the two hours will be greatly extended.
Also stopped following the news/politics from all sources, which may have been the single greatest source of stress and anxiety. Not knowing what's happening minute by minute with the chuckleheads in DC is a fantastic way to live.
Anyway sometime after I began the cyber-blackouts I stumbled onto this video which I immediately found credible. It gave me the idea of extending the two hours in the here & now, particularly in the car. I’ve never driven an inch without music or some kind of talk radio, but I gave driving in silence a go, I had very low expectations and figured it wouldn’t last more than a day; it’s been a few months now & is the preferred way of driving. I think this guy nails what I’m saying:
If I could give any useful advice to the human race, it would be simple: try disconnecting, go outside, touch some grass, breathe some air, talk to some three-dimensional people, it just might remind you of who you really are.
My "unplug" started about 15 years ago. Highly recommend it.
I didn't watch the video you posted, but I'd stop short of using the word boredom as it's quite the contrary. I'm actually more active, busier and get more done than I did before. Keep on keeping on.
My "unplug" started about 15 years ago. Highly recommend it.
I didn't watch the video you posted, but I'd stop short of using the word boredom as it's quite the contrary. I'm actually more active, busier and get more done than I did before. Keep on keeping on.
You guys are on the right course. I don't embrace NOISE. I never have. My best friend in High School always had to have NOISE on - drove me nuts. I listen to the stereo in the car seldom. I'm a very musical person, and enjoy music, but I don't have to even have it on to enjoy it. I enjoy computers, and I enjoy the Internet as I'm always researching something or other that has caught my attention - but I don't watch much in the way of videos, or other NOISE. If I'm trying to find a "how to", I'm looking first for pictures or an article, videos are annoying and too slow most of the time. I have a wonderful sacred space garden that I enjoy, and my HPs is teaching me how to enjoy it more. Blah, blah, blah.
I mostly gave up TV 30 years ago. Didn't "quit", just drifted away. I enjoy the occasional movie, but "Gold Rush" is the only TV I'm currently watching, and I probably wouldn't bother with that except my wife has it on. As for the "News" - oh HELL no! My wife watches the fucking thing 24/7/365 - I can't even be in the same part of the house. Thank Goddess there's a door so I can close off the NOISE. TV sets in waiting rooms and other public places are Hell - I carry a TV-B-GON when I know I'm going to be subjected to that crap.
No radio in the car. Drives the Wife nuts. When I get in her car it automatically turns the radio on and I turn it off right away.
I have not watched TV for over 2 yrs. I do watch a lot of YouTube on my Smart TV though. Absolutely NO social media. I do keep up on the news but not network news. I’ve noticed that the adds I see on YouTube mainly advertise things to make you or your laundry smell better whole body sprays and special crystals to add to the washer or dryer.
My solitude is my shop. Just me and the cats. It’s 1 mile from my house. I have a nice view of the mountains from my shop doors. If I don’t want visitors I just keep the entrance gate closed. The Wife does stop by but it always disrupts my work flow. My ADD does that enough.
I like exploring the desert just me and the TJ. Most of the areas I go have no cell service.
I have not watched TV for over 2 yrs. I do watch a lot of YouTube on my Smart TV though. Absolutely NO social media. I do keep up on the news but not network news. I’ve noticed that the adds I see on YouTube mainly advertise things to make you or your laundry smell better whole body sprays and special crystals to add to the washer or dryer.
My solitude is my shop. Just me and the cats. It’s 1 mile from my house. I have a nice view of the mountains from my shop doors. If I don’t want visitors I just keep the entrance gate closed. The Wife does stop by but it always disrupts my work flow. My ADD does that enough.
I like exploring the desert just me and the TJ. Most of the areas I go have no cell service.
Fantastic post, my friend! Gave up the so-called "NEWS" years ago. Drive without the radio on more times than not. Thanks to your post, I think I'm going to look deeper into total silence. Maybe even hand the wife some divorce papers...
Just kidding!!! Couldn't let the opportunity pass for a few chuckles. 
I hardly watch any news, only watch TV shows like how it's made etc.
Love the idea of silence, but my 85 year old Dad digs Fox News.......
...... I generally look at the political forum on another Outdoor forum I'm on only because it's mostly folks from our area here.
I do love music and will listen to the radio when traveling by myself.
Love the idea of silence, but my 85 year old Dad digs Fox News.......
...... I generally look at the political forum on another Outdoor forum I'm on only because it's mostly folks from our area here.I do love music and will listen to the radio when traveling by myself.
I didn't watch the video you posted, but I'd stop short of using the word boredom as it's quite the contrary. I'm actually more active, busier and get more done than I did before. Keep on keeping on.
that may have been his point, I took the term boredom as a hook, certainly for most people the assumption will be that if I put down all of my noise making toys I will be bored shitless, to the contrary the state of being without constant noise yields a far less boring existence.
Fantastic post, my friend! Gave up the so-called "NEWS" years ago. Drive without the radio on more times than not. Thanks to your post, I think I'm going to look deeper into total silence. Maybe even hand the wife some divorce papers...
Yea I've done the news blackout before, when I dumped cable tv over 10 years ago I stopped watching the news. I got sucked back in during Covid when there was less to do, I discovered YouTube videos were more than just for music during that time, particularly news clips. 5 minutes here, 5 minutes there, seemed innocent at first but if you stick around long enough you'll string enough 5 minute clips together to be right back to watching the news
That's what happened to me anyway. These days, to the extent I watch YouTube, since it (& Netflix) is pretty much all I have access to on tv, I'm primarily back to watching what I used to watch before, music videos & hobby related stuff, the algorithm has long since weeded out news channels.
One thing I do miss is Megyn Kelly's pretty face however.
100%, that was the default setting since I started driving which is why I didn't think I could possibly enjoy driving without it. Shockingly I like it more.
Everyone has had the experience where you get in your car & before you know it you're at your destination but can barely recall the drive, like you were on autopilot... that hasn't happened since I turned off the radio, total presence in the car.
One exception I made in all these months was when I drove out to Pittsburgh to visit my daughter, for that I had the iPod rolling; the thought of 5 hours on the PA Turnpike in silence was a bit too much to bite off, though I may give it a try next trip out.
I generally only have the stereo on on longer drives, and only when traffic is relatively light. Long distance freeway cruising. Or not - I drove 300 miles round trip on I-95, didn't have it on at all the entire time. Its not as distracting as a PHOOOOOONNE would be, but it *is* still a distraction. I've owned a couple or three vehicles that didn't even have a stereo - I can pretty much take it or leave it. No biggie either way.
my best life-long friend, we met in nursery school, is a legitimate genius, typically eccentric for the type, very quirky. Many years ago I jumped in his car & as we were driving I noticed that the radio was off, thinking it was just a fluke I went for the button & he slapped my hand away. I said wtf, we need some tunes.
I'll never forget his response, he said "I can't deal with that thing, too much data coming at me".
I started laughing because I didn't think he was serious, but he was.
Growing up he was the one with the top shelf massive Blaupunkt car stereo with amps & speakers everywhere, always tuned up to 11, probably a major contributor to my current tinnitus situation, but I digress.
It has taken all these years to finally understand his objection & data comment.
Some of these posts have really resonated with me, at 48 and contemplating the next big steps in my life. First of all, the simplification of home and house. My wife and I already live pretty small. We have a nice house, much smaller than most of my peers. Its 1750'ish sq feet. Plenty of room for the two of us (no kids). We live in town, with a small yard. There are times I wish for a bigger house, but its mostly when I'm thinking about my hobbies (like building an indoor golf sim). I do wish we had more property. I'm limited by zoning regs to a 720 sq foot shop, and that is about 720 sq feet too small, lol. I'm thankful and blessed to have the space I DO have but a couple more feet of ceiling and some more floor space sure would be nice.
We've recently acquired a nice chuck of land "up north" She is from the UP, and I love it there. Phase one is getting a bardo built on the 80 acres of property. She's all about it. That will be the place we spend May - October. Winter Months, we've not really figured out yet, but as I age, I'm starting to really want to get out of the snow and cold. Gotta get somewhere warm...Florida Gulf Coast, Northern AZ, Southern Utah, something like that. As far as when, buying a business a few years ago has probably delayed the when. We have a good amount of coin stashed away in 401K, but the stretch from say 55-63 when I can start pulling off that would have been tough. I've not always been good with money. Trying to pull this business up to a point where I can sell will be a benefit...but the economy has taken its toll this year. Anyway....
The shutting down of electronics...I've never been a fan of earbuds and blasting music 24/7. A lot of times, I'll find I'm just driving and not listening to anything. When I walk, or ride my bike, I feel that having an earbud in is more dangerous than anything, since I basically think EVERY car on the road is trying to kill me. I swore off mainstream media a LONG time ago. Sometime around when PrimeTime was found guilty of engineering a Chevy pickup to explode because of side saddle fuel tanks. That opened my eyes to news being entertainment and reliant on ratings...and I've not really looked back. Now I have a couple sources I read and don't watch anything but the weather on TV. I have notifications turned OFF on all apps, even my work email. I check it when I have time. That is a HUGE way to break the cycle of feeling like a slave to others.
Love to read about how others are achieving simplicity and their successes. Keep it up!
We've recently acquired a nice chuck of land "up north" She is from the UP, and I love it there. Phase one is getting a bardo built on the 80 acres of property. She's all about it. That will be the place we spend May - October. Winter Months, we've not really figured out yet, but as I age, I'm starting to really want to get out of the snow and cold. Gotta get somewhere warm...Florida Gulf Coast, Northern AZ, Southern Utah, something like that. As far as when, buying a business a few years ago has probably delayed the when. We have a good amount of coin stashed away in 401K, but the stretch from say 55-63 when I can start pulling off that would have been tough. I've not always been good with money. Trying to pull this business up to a point where I can sell will be a benefit...but the economy has taken its toll this year. Anyway....
The shutting down of electronics...I've never been a fan of earbuds and blasting music 24/7. A lot of times, I'll find I'm just driving and not listening to anything. When I walk, or ride my bike, I feel that having an earbud in is more dangerous than anything, since I basically think EVERY car on the road is trying to kill me. I swore off mainstream media a LONG time ago. Sometime around when PrimeTime was found guilty of engineering a Chevy pickup to explode because of side saddle fuel tanks. That opened my eyes to news being entertainment and reliant on ratings...and I've not really looked back. Now I have a couple sources I read and don't watch anything but the weather on TV. I have notifications turned OFF on all apps, even my work email. I check it when I have time. That is a HUGE way to break the cycle of feeling like a slave to others.
Love to read about how others are achieving simplicity and their successes. Keep it up!
You don't need a TV for weather:
https://www.wunderground.com/
They're generally more accurate than just about everybody else.
I use the weather app on my phoooooonne
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Partly true. Wunderground also uses local weather stations to dial in the microclimates. Nearest station is about 3/4 mile from me.
I keep thinking about the time someone detonated a bomb in the capitol building when you write that name.
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The Wife has been on a downsizing tear since she retired in 22. I think I might be next.
I’ve recently started selling off some of my surplus equipment. I have a lot of equipment left after I sold my beekeeping operation in 22. I’m amazed at the ROI I’m getting. Almost what I payed for the equipment 10 years ago. I’ve added a shit ton of cash to my FU account in the last couple of weeks. We live a simple lifestyle, everything is paid off and we mainly spend our money on travel. New step in shower in the works for the Wife and I’m seriously thinking about buying a lift for the shop. Also some upgrades for the TJ are in the works.
I’ve recently started selling off some of my surplus equipment. I have a lot of equipment left after I sold my beekeeping operation in 22. I’m amazed at the ROI I’m getting. Almost what I payed for the equipment 10 years ago. I’ve added a shit ton of cash to my FU account in the last couple of weeks. We live a simple lifestyle, everything is paid off and we mainly spend our money on travel. New step in shower in the works for the Wife and I’m seriously thinking about buying a lift for the shop. Also some upgrades for the TJ are in the works.
Get the lift you won't regret it, 2 or 4 post? I need to start getting rid of crap, have 2 houses packed.
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