Where Bloggers Live: Things in My Home That Get Me Through the Day
Welcome! “Where Bloggers Live” started out kind of like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…with bloggers! We all like to peek behind the scenes and see inside people’s homes, interests, and lives, so every month this wonderful family of amazing women shares their work-spaces, homes, towns, and thoughts, with posts based on specific prompts. It’s been so interesting over the years to see the different ways each of us interpret the topics.
This month’s Where Blogger’s Live prompt is “Things in My Home That Get Me Through the Day.” This one was a little interesting for me, no longer actually having “a home.” Some things I can take with me from place to place, others I have to hope for when I cross the threshold into each new temporary home. These are the things high on my list of “must haves.’
Cell Phone
I mean, come on. This will probably be on everyone’s list. And to think that not that long ago this wasn’t even a THING, let alone a necessity. As a lifelong introvert and now a full-time traveler, my cell phone is the tool that keeps me connected. To everything. A day without my cell phone is like…{{shudders}} I don’t even want to imagine it.
Books
Currently, Kindle and audiobooks fall under the category of “books,” because my eyes are so, pardon my French, F*CKED UP. But yeah, reading has been important throughout my lifetime, but now, in retirement, with few outside demands on my time, I can really give into my obsession. There are days I just stay in bed and read entire 400 page books in one “sitting.” They entertain me, they educate me, they open my mind and heart to new things and people, they make me feel. Life would feel much smaller without them.
Bed
Ahh, everytime I settle into bed, I sigh and say “ahh, bed is good.” Because…well, bed IS good. It’s my safe space, it’s the place I look forward to being all day, it’s where my body’s aches and pains can get some relief and rest and the world stops placing demands on me.
Windows
Subheading: Air, Light, Views, Sound. I don’t know if windows are more important to me than the average bear, but windows are crucial to my well-being. I hear a lot of people saying “oh, I need natural light,” but that’s just one aspect of a good window. Natural light, sunlight creating shadows on the wall, breezes lightly blowing the curtains, windows are the lens to the outside world. What’s going on out there? Who’s playing basketball in the street? What’s the neighbor bringing home from the market? Is the brown dog wearing a jacket today? And windows carry in the sounds of life – the train is coming, the bluejay saying thank you for the sunflower seeds in the feeder, the onion truck man selling fresh green yongpa this morning, come and get them, cheap. A day without windows is like a day in solitary confinement.
Protein Shake
Ha ha, not quite as romantic as the others, but…I know if I don’t start the day with some sort of protein, I’ll end up shaky and trembly and useless for the rest of the day. So if I don’t have time or motivation to prepare something, at the very least, I can down a protein shake.
Privacy
Subheading: Solitude. Remember “lifelong introvert”? Yeah. I need a lot of alone time. Me time. Quiet time. Peaceful time. And that’s like “brain peace.” I have no problem hearing the leaf blower at 8am in the morning, that’s just “sounds of life” to me. But having someone communicate directly with me, about something I need to take care of, someone I need to confront, something I have to defend myself on – those all combat my brain peace. Leave it outside my door. Not interested, thank you very much.
Iced Tea
Ha, YES. “Drink more water” has been preached to me for umpteen years. But I just can’t. I cannot down as many daily ounces as “they” want. But tea? Sweet, home-brewed, dark, dark, Lipton iced tea? Just pour it down my gullet by the gallon. And I’m hydrated and happy. That’s my science. Leave me alone.
Music
These days that mainly means Spotify. I don’t have music on all the time. I like my quiet times, as well. But if I’m at the computer, there’s music. At work it kept me just distracted enough from my anxiety that I could function. And now it keeps boredom at bay. And in the car??? Forget about it – music is a MUST.
Air Conditioning
I run hot. I’m a sweat-er. I have a very low sweat bar. And I hate sweating. It starts in my scalp, dampening my hair. Then the rivulets start on my forehead, making my bangs stick to my skin. The sweat rivers run down the side of my face. The neckline of my shirts darken with sweat. It’s awful. Nothing can stop it. Except for air conditioning. COLD air conditioning. 74 degrees is not air conditioning. I repeat: 74 degrees is not air conditioning. I want the air cold enough that wearing a light sweater is comfortable…or the cozy comforter pulled up to my chin.
And last, but certainly not least, is…
ChatGPT
This is a new one. And I’m not interested in the “for/against AI” discussion at this time, thank you. But I rely on AI so heavily these days, especially with all the traveling and challenges with living different places all the time…and all the administrative things I’ve been dealing with…really, just everything. And no, AI and Google are not the same. I can start with Google, but much of the time I end up using Chat for more specific questions…or to follow up on a discussion from an earlier time. Right now, Chat is (trying to) help me get my already booked/confirmed flight from Seoul to Ho Cho Minh City registered on the airline’s website/app so I can check in before my flight and get real time update notifications. I 100% of the time have similar challenges with international airlines…and I always look to Chat to help…or to set my mind at ease that it’s not that big a deal if I can’t check in ahead of time (I always thought that was like THEY’RE NOT GOING TO LET ME ON THE PLANE IF I’M NOT CHECKED IN 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE). So Chat (or the AI du jour) has a definite place of importance in my life and my home.
If I was writing this at a different point in my life, animals would have been #1 on the list. But that’s not my life these days.
When I look at my list, I realize the things that get me through the day aren’t earth-shattering. They’re simple comforts and familiar routines that make home feel manageable and genuinely good. I’m grateful for every one of them.
Please visit my friends’ blogs to see what brings them comfort in their homes and lives.
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Em at Dust and Doghair
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Leslie Once Upon a Time Happily Ever After
Sally at Within a World of My Own
Jodie Filogomo
First I love that you start off with a protein shake in the morning….brava!
And are you loving the audiobooks now? We listen at night while we’re stretching before bed.And I have to admit I wasn’t a fan at first, but now they are great.
Xoxo
Jodie
bettyewp
The audiobooks are iffy. If the reader is not good – has an annoying voice or accent – speaks too slowly or too fast – it can ruin the book for me. I do adjust the speed but that’s just putting makeup on the pig. I really liked them when I was doing a lot of driving to and from work every day. I don’t like listening to them while physically doing something else, like washing the dishes or cleaning, etc. But I can listen while I’m doing my remote work…and when I’m really pooped, I’ll lay down and listen, though that usually puts me to sleep! So they’re low on my list of “ways to read,” but now that “reading a regular print book” is practically off the table for me, at least it’s another option when I hit a dry Kindle/Libby spot. They were a lifesaver during all the eye surgery/recovery times…and I like them for traveling when my eyes are tired from actually reading (the kindle). So I have sort of a love/hate relationshop with them, but they definitely have a place in my life 🙂
Daenel T.
Privacy and Iced Tea. Omg, I wish I’d thought of those because YES!!! However, I’m very specific about my iced tea. I want it sweet. I also love a little natural light {you know the photography and all that}.
bettyewp
Oh yeah, VERY specific tea needs. People are always like “I have some nice herbal/green/English Breakfast” and I’m like nope. That is an entirely different animal! When I’m staying at people’s houses I bring all my tea accoutrements and make MY tea MY way!