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Electric wheelchair.
Pretty much been housebound since 2018. I can walk short distances, but large stores like a grocery store or a Home Depot were out of reach unless they had their own scooters available, which were often broken, or un-charged.
Malls were out entirely. City centers? Not a chance.
The wheelchair opened all that back up to me!
Replaced all my mismatched socks with 24 pair of identical.
Interesting. I went the opposite direction, and prefer it. Grasses greener type deal maybe
Depends on if you think socks are a fashion accessory or a utility.
Not sure it's so binary. I don't know the first thing about fashion, but I do like having different kinds of socks, even if no one else sees them.
I do this kinda like magical thinking thing where I think about how I want my day to go and pick socks/etc that go with that.
I know it's not the most mentally healthy thing
Eh, it doesn't sound destructive or interruptive to your day.
Manifesting isn't just a new-age hippy thing. Ritual can put your brain in a certain space, and that can be a massive motivator for someone. Picking your socks to fit the theme isn't all that different than telling yourself affirmations in the mirror.
It's kinda like the "lucky shirt" concept. Sure, the shirt doesn't really have some metaphysical power, but you're putting yourself in the mindset of "Good things happen when I wear this", and when you're already in that frame of mind, the good things stand out even more.
I don't see anything mentally unhealthy about what you do, sounds cool.
Yes, and at the same time I went with thin wool socks too. And Iβm in Texas where itβs hot and humid too. Wool socks were a game changer, they donβt hold onto moisture like cotton and synthetics do.
Ultimately trivial cost-wise and to install, but game-changer:
butt game changer.
That would have made my post so much butter.
I highly recommend one with a heated seat if you've got a reasonably accessible power outlet nearby. Just be aware that it will totally spoil you and make pooping away from home even less fun than it already is.
Iβm an electrician in the PNW, and that plug will usually run you $750 to move one close to that spot, just for a price point.
What I was about to post, too. It's ridiculous how much better something as simple as taking a shit can be.
Not specifically mine but definitely that of my wife: a company called Beurer in Germany makes this little tool with a small ceramic plate that you can heat. Press the hot thing against a mosquito bite and not only does the itch go away, the actual inflammation is diminished. For 20 euros one of the best impulse buys I ever did.
We've also put in an order for an electric bicycle which I think will lead to us leaving the car now often.
I looked up the bug bite thing. Im glad that someone paid attention to the way most proteins in bites/stings break down if heated. I bet it works pretty good
This is probably going to be life changing for my wife and daughter. Theyβre both super reactive to mosquito bites to the point of not wanting to be outside. Luckily, we live where there are only flies and moths so most of the time at home this is literally not a problem. However, when camping in the mountains it can be. Thanks for the tip!
You can also run a spoon under hot water for a more improv tool. Works great.
CPAP, so I can breathe while I sleep.
Pressure cooker, so I can make a delicious stews in 30 mins instead of hours.
Custom molded ear plugs. I can play for hours and still hear the full spectrum of frequencies and no ringing.
Interestingly, a good pair of noise canceling in ear headphones. I have ADHD, and being able to block out the world to focus on what I need to do is a godsend.
An e-bike. I used my regular bike for errands but the e-bike just made it so much easier to pedal in high winds or when I was hauling my trailer full of groceries. Plus it increased my range because I knew I could go farther in the same amount of time. I bought a class 1 e-bike so I always have to pedal, like a normal bike. Because I use it more, I think I actually get MORE exercise despite the assist. I really love it.
While I wouldn't recommend this avenue⦠A trip to the ER and a 2 week quarantine stay at the hospital. I had pancreatitis that was suspected to be caused by a contagious virus? Idk after I was placed in my room I wasn't allowed visitors and I was pretty isolated aside from blood draws every 4 hours. Cliché but it allowed me to reflect on my life and identify faults in myself and devise ways to become a better.
Still working on a lot of things, but comparing myself to me 6 months ago, I feel amazing about my growth that I don't think I could have otherwise achieved without this major life event. :)
God that sounds SO expensive (then again, maybe you don't live in the US come to think of it).
I went to the ER for a simple second-degree burn on my hand. All they gave me was a bandaged-up hand, some ointment, and a crisp high-five (on my other hand).
Cost me $600 after insurance. And the sad part is I have decent insurance for my area.
A semi-professional portafilter espresso machine paired with a great grinder.
I can make coffee at home thatβs better than whatβs being served in most cafΓ©s and I can just have that for breakfast every morning. Felt like quite the quality of life improvement.
Electric bike, 95 Ford Ranger, camping gear, garden cart, gardening supplies and plants, cat tree, ebook reader
Gym membership. Previously I was doing some working out on my own, but it's nice to get out, and easier to bring friends along.
I did the typical thing: first week of January signed up to the YMCA and committed to a couch-to-5k, and have to admit I'm feeling a lot lot lot better.
A good shower head with better pressure and spray pattern. The one I got was Oxygenics, hopefully they are still good.
Reusable, vacuum sealable ziplock bags. Cuts back on waste & lengthens the shelf life of most foods.
Itβs also really nice to be able to buy bulk meats & be able to separate them into vacuum sealed single servings.
And last but not least, it really helps with using the sous vide. I like being able to separate a bulk package of chicken into individual meals with different marinades. Just pull a bag out & defrost it, then itβs 90 seconds a side to gourmet meals midweek.
A bidet, an ebike, a tongue scraper.
The first means no more clogged toilets, no toilet paper needed, and a fantastically clean ass always.
Also comes with side benefits like being able to eat the hottest foods imaginable, not getting hemorroids or healing those ones you may already have, being able to wipe your ass with two broken wrists (if you mountain bike or are old), not getting forever chemicals on your asshole, and having an ass that your SO won't think is disgusting.
A commuter ebike, because it allows you to travel 1-45 miles stupidly easy, which saves a staggering amount of money on gas (uses pennies of electricity), parking fees, and wear and tear on your car. Side benefits include not being absolutely enraged in traffic, occasionally beating your own drive times in a car, and not having parking anxiety at popular destinations such as beaches, parks, downtown shopping, or ferries. Provides a decent amount of exercise as it basically becomes an exercise bike when the assist is turned off.
It also will allow you to get up hills without getting sweaty.
Tongue scraper- removes plaque from your tongue in cakes. Way better than mouthwash. Leaves your breath much fresher after meals. Works best at night, but also can remove bad morning breath. Get a small metal one. Dramatically changes your breath quality and makes your mouth feel cleaner. Great if you plan on doing some kissing.
Tech to make day to day chores easier have had the largest impact for us. The automated self cleaning liter box for the cats, the cordless vacuum, the cordless electric mop (such as Tineco), electric lawn mowers (no maintenance), smart outlets and automations via home assistant.
Another big one is the RO water filter at the kitchen sink. No more bottled water. Bonus points if you get one that tells you when fillters need to be changed. So nice.
I have heard nothing better than mediocre reviews of any of the robotic litter boxes. May I ask which you have, and what you like/don't like about it?
If people are here to receive recommendations, I'm preaching to the choir. But responding the question directly, a computer of my own. Being able to go online or work on digital stuff whenever I want to has changed my life for the better.
Rolling laundry cart.
Now my clothes mostly don't end up on the floor.
A bunch of stacking prep bowls for the kitchen. Previously, I had nesting sets of glass and metal bowls, each with three sizes. I still kept the glass set for microwaving, but I gave away the set of three metal bowls. In their place, I got 8 medium bowls and 12 mixing bowls. They are great when prepping ingredients for mise en place style cooking. The mixing bowls are a bit larger, so I also use them for making salads, soaking chickpeas, and so on. It's nice to never need to scramble for bowls, but at the same time they stack perfectly so they don't take up much space. I bought extra because I am assuming the bowls with get damaged over time, but the company will eventually stop making them.
A drawing tablet! I enjoy drawing so much, even the sound of the pen scraping against the tablet is complete ear candy for me!!
Boox Palma, a phone sized e-reader that runs Android. I read a lot more books and I think the e-ink display makes it easier to fall asleep.
Recently loaf of bread.
A good loaf is a good loaf
Robot vacuum. Used to drown in collie fur and the constant angst of vacuuming.
Requires a fair amount of maintenance but still a massive time saver.
Headphones to sleep with. It's a big stretchy headband with flat speakers sewn in, and it works on Bluetooth (speakers are removable with a little effort to wash the band). I've always needed stories to fall asleep, and now I can't believe how many years I spent propping my phone just-so against my ear to not bother my sleeping partner.
Game changer for sleepless me.
Aer Daypack 2 work backpack. I replaced my older shoulder bag with that and itβs so much easier to carry around my work laptop, etc.
Things I love:
I freaking love the thing. Unfortunately, they no longer sell it as there is a newer model, the Day Pack 3; it adds a few things like an AirTag pocket and side handle but removes the removable sternum strap (according to one reviewer, the picture looks like the buckle can slide up and off the new strap rails), and changes the inner pocket fabric.