This is a blog post I probably shouldn’t write because just in case there’s someone out there who thinks I’m somewhat normal, this will ruin it.
I’m not a huge fan of chocolate but every time the electricity goes off, I want brownies. E.V.E.R.Y. time. Not storebought, pre-packaged brownies but warm, gooey, homemade brownies. I think it’s because back 20+ years ago when we had an ice storm in Louisiana and had no power for a week, after the neighborhood had gone together and cooked and shared as much as we could out of our freezers, one lady who worked with Boy Scouts knew how to make a solar oven and several people had brownie mix in their pantries so we had brownies. Started a tradition for me . . the lights go out, I want brownies. Only problem is . . my stovetop works without electricity but my oven does not.
The other thing is that as Christmas Day draws closer . . every year . . I start halfway getting apprehensive about needing something from the store and all the stores are closed. There’s very little I could come up with that I want or need that we don’t have around here but I know there’s something we’re going to need on Christmas Day and we can’t gt it. I can go weeks and weeks without going to the grocery store so why can’t I make it through Christmas Day without feeling the need to go to the grocery store?
So . . you know that about me. Think about what happens when we decide to go on our practice retirement budget. I don’t even like to go out to eat. There aren’t many restaurants in our town that I love . . so why do I keep thinking about things from restaurants I want?
When did we start this budget? Tuesday? Wednesday I wanted Thai food. This morning I woke up wanting breakfast from the Mexican restaurant. There was only one Mexican restaurant here that I halfway liked and the building was so old and . . kinda gross . . and I just couldn’t bring myself to eat there. They moved to a new location a couple of months ago . . probably at least three months ago now that I think about it. I didn’t mention wanting to go out for breakfast but we had to go to Walmart. Of course we did . . Vince is home and it was standing room only in that store. I went because I wanted to go by Aldi and get a ham for Christmas (they didn’t have the one we wanted but may have more tomorrow!). After shopping, Vince said “Do you want to go by the new Mexican restaurant?” Well, YES! We both laughed . . what budget?
Mexican Food
They have this “senior plate” that comes with an enchilada, rice, taco and beans for $5.99. That’s a lot of food for $5.99. By the time we both drank a soda, it was still just under $20 even with a tip. Not bad. I think we can do that once a week, even with the budget. Maybe some day I’ll learn to drink water but it’s water out of the lake and my head just says NO!
Maybe I need to tell myself that on this new budget plan, we aren’t allowed to eat at home and then I’ll want to eat at home. 🙂
Katie says
We always want what we can’t have.
Nelle Coursey says
But you aren’t going to give up Tuesdays are you??
archer1955 says
You can always run the lake water through an activated charcoal filter and then boil it for three minutes if you absolutely had to drink or cook with it. Otherwise, it would flush your toilet quite well if city water wasn’t running.
Pinot and Piecing says
I go through this same kind of thing when I’m expecting someone to come over my house. I just hate the question, “Are you going to be home?” I don’t know! I might have to leave! Then I get the overwhelming feeling that I HAVE to get out of there! Or I really hate being told that a service person or delivery will be between X and Y hours–I feel like I’m in jail the whole day. Funny, because I’m a homebody and only leave my home about once a week–but being told I MUST be there makes me want to scream and run away. Resistance to being limited? I have no problem with a budget, but being told I have to be home makes me feel panicky and like I need to escape. And yes, holidays make me panicky because there’s nowhere to go that’s open, so I have to stay home…gulp. But I love home! It makes no sense.
Sherrill Pecere says
It’s just like being on a diet–everyday you see the commercials for all the yummy stuff and you want it all (even though normally you wouldn’t want it). These same ads you see everyday when you’re NOT on a diet you don’t even notice! Crazy!!
Sandy N says
Can I just say that I love the things you post?! I laugh & relate at the same time.
cassews says
If your stove works, Aluminum foil and a cast iron skillet will do the job. Just keep an eye on it .. YEP know from experience . hahahahahaha I have even cooked it on top of our Lopi wood stove … Yep outages do have a way of making one think how to do things differently !!
Karen Sutton says
I fretted and fretted about finances and how retirement would impact our lifestyle before I retired. Our lifestyle has not had to change due to retirement. The decrease in income was offset by the decrease in work-related expenses – work clothes, gas to get back and forth, etc.
anniequilts says
You make me laugh! : )
Claudia Duke says
My husband bought me a Berkey water filter system several years ago. I gave up my stomach to a rare genetic form of stomach cancer 9 years ago. Dehydration can be a big problem for me. He wanted to be sure I could always have clean water to drink even during emergencies (think Harvey). Anyway, I can pour ditch water though this thing and it will make it clean enough to drink. It is an expensive system, but I love it.
Sandy says
The water in my town comes from a local lake and it’s great for drinking and everything else. I have no complaints about it whatsoever!