Family activities include Smokey getting in the way of some reading downtime.
Panda and I aren’t much for a partying lifestyle. We’re pretty big homebodies, completely content to stay at home relaxing together, enjoying takeout, and doing (or not doing) other such quiet activities. We could spend the whole night watching some shows or browsing online as we tuck ourselves in bed. It’s a nice sort of bonding for us. We may not be doing things together, but at least we are next to each other sharing our space. It’s comfortable and comforting. I’m at the stage where I’m ready to start building a home life. Suddenly I’m thinking about stuff I can get to personalize our home (guess that comes with the territory of having a home to personalize)!
I’ve always enjoyed this sort of home life, even as a teenager. Of course there have been plenty of times that I’ve gone out to various events or just to hang out with friends late into the night, but usually I just want to hole up in my room and spend my time on my computer, chatting with family, or reading a book. Back then I had plenty of homework to keep me busy for ages too. I see a lot of my peers going out to bars and parties and whatnot, but that doesn’t interest me. Similarly, more active home activities like board games or running around the house playing tag or hide and seek don’t interest me either. Maybe it’s not good that so much of my habits are sedentary, but I am in good health.
Just the other night, Panda and I were going out to eat, but on the way decided to get takeout. I enjoyed that option a lot more than sitting at the restaurant. It was really nice to have our food ready, eat at our own pace, and get some other things done while eating. Plus, I got to wear super comfy clothes that I probably shouldn’t go to a restaurant in lest I be taken for a slob. Perhaps that’s my true motivation – being able to relax without people judging me because I’m dressed so casually and never wear makeup. Home is a place to take off all those layers you throw on for the outside world, a place where the true you comes out.
Are we the only ones our age like this? Seems like everyone else always has some grand night or weekend plans coming up. Ours are just quiet – stay in most of the time, get some chores done, maybe go out to grab some food or stroll through Target, and return home again. No happy hours or late nights out or parties of any sort. It’s not that the opportunities aren’t there – in fact, Panda often turns down invitations to social gatherings with his coworkers and I often skip out on activities with my networks. We do like to plan some nice vacation getaways though!
So what’s your preference? Are you still living it up on the social scenes? Or maybe you’re like us and pretty settled into a calmer pace of life?
I’ve finally gotten a chance to join the green movement by helping out at 
A harder thing for me to do right now is buy all-natural, organic, local, or fair trade products. With no income, I’ve got to go for cheapest over other benefits. However, my mom and I have been living an essentially waste-free life for a few months now. We compost all the perishable items that we don’t completely consume. We recycle the plastics, cardboard, aluminum, and glass that we may come across. The other items are the little bit of trash left over that we do have, which doesn’t amount to that much at the end of the day. In fact, my mom has even canceled our trash-collecting service. I’m working on buying less bottles and opted for a powder to mix my own drinks. I reuse plastic bags like crazy and have stopped leaving a grocery stores with a handful of bags in tow. Instead I try to remember my reusable bags, otherwise I “punish” myself by carrying the items separately. I’ve even dragged Panda into that lifestyle and don’t let him be wasteful when we shop for food.
