Simple Pleasures
My husband and I enjoyed a lovely, relaxing weekend. But then, even without Father's day or some other holiday to inspire us, we always make a point of getting the most out of our weekends – and we do it on a strict budget, because as is the case with so many American's these days, money is tight. That means we haven't been going away like we used to, eating out nearly as much, or going places where we have to pay admission. So how does one still manage to have fun and enjoy life?
It sounds cliché, but we've learned to find value in the simple things. By hitting the farmer's markets for vegetables, finding sales on lean meats and fish, and using our own homegrown herbs and tomatoes, we can, for just a few dollars, whip up easy, gourmet meals that rival anything you'll find at fancy restaurants. A reasonable but still good bottle of wine costs about the same as a single glass of wine out somewhere. We'll usually have lunch al fresco (fancy for outside, lol) at our umbrella-covered table, enjoying the balmy Florida breeze as the palm trees rustle, butterflies hover around our flowers, and birds come and go from our feeder – all beautiful, relaxing, soul-renewing sights. Our day might have started with a several mile bike ride and, for me, a bit of yoga - keeping us fit without the expense of a gym membership. Dips in the pool under our beautiful, bright, expansive skies (luckily we put our pool in a number of years ago), are positively delightful and make us feel like guests at a five-star resort – minus the outrageous prices and all that tipping. By the end of the weekend, we typically feel as refreshed as if we had gone away. But maybe happier, because our "stay-cation" was fashioned entirely by our own preferences and we don't experience any buyer's remorse.
What we've learned to savor are experiences as opposed to acquiring new possessions – and really, we have enough of those anyway. People say there's a reason for everything. I can't help but reflect on the fact that, prior to our current economic woes, Americans were (are probably still are), the world's biggest consumers – and ridiculously wasteful ones at that. So maybe karma decided to intervene and help us shift our priorities. To teach us to keep our money in our wallets and learn to value each other and our surroundings more, and to live life more in the moment, rather than anticipating the next item we believe will enhance our happiness.
What makes you relaxed and happy without having to spend money?
