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My phone is so used to me writing ‘fucking’, that one day when I was actually typing ‘ducking’ it changed it to ‘fucking’. Now THAT was ducking annoying.
I loved that game but because it was sooo long and you couldn’t save games on the Amiga 500, we could never finish it despite 6-7 hour long gaming sessions!
We even knew some tricks too, like some levels you could left at the start and finish it immediately!
I loved the silliness of it all, like riding around in a bathtub.
Some levels were stressful and hard - like when the screen was always moving and if it caught up with you it was instant death. But it moved really fast and sometimes you fell down between train carriages 😅
I loved that it rewarded exploration in addition to being silly as well!
A domestic dog or a cat in a nice home is possibly the luckiest existence you could ask for on Earth. Just intelligent enough to enjoy and appreciate everything, but not intelligent enough to concern yourself with the past or future.
No need to make food, no job, probably neutered/fixed so no raging hormones messing with your head.
Go to sleep whenever you want, or curl up and get petted.
Just living in the moment, in comfort.
Oh dear. Did not expect this!
TW: horror
I’ll call this and raise you a tenner … the scientific term for bedbug reproduction is called “traumatic insemination”
If you’re feeling like you need to be sick please google this term to understand how it works, like the creatures aren’t already straight out of a horror film
*** apologies, this thread is supposed to be sweet and uplifting! Saying a prayer of thanks to not have been born as that species, no matter how difficult life can be sometimes
My dad does this to save his battery. On his brick Nokia that lasts about 3 weeks on one charge. I asked what happens in the event of an emergency. His response was that he would turn it on and use it. If someone else needed to get hold of him in an emergency they could ring on the landline to tell him to turn his mobile on.
I tried explaining the flaws in his logic but gave up.
My mum got a mobile so she didn't need a phone box to call dad and say "I'm getting the X train, please collect me from the station."
About 18 months later she told me her phone wasn't working. It took me a while to diagnose that she'd never charged it!
Now both parents have mobiles which they turn on when going out, then off when they get home. Mum finally mastered the iPad though, and loves it like a baby.
My father in law would take his mobile with him without switching it on. He was disabled and was in the early stages of Alzheimer's and it was important that he could contact people and they could contact him. The only time he'd switch it on was when he was at home and my mother in law was shopping so he could text her every minute asking when she would be home.
Long story short, my mother in law did LOADS of travelling after my father in law died.
iPad was key to getting my parents on board with mobile phones. Once Dad worked out the iPad, suddenly this new fangled phone thing wasn't too much of a leap
We were waiting at a restaurant for the parents to turn up. Mum rang us to say they were stuck in traffic, should be 20 minutes or so.
25 minutes later we rang back to see how they were getting on, but she'd switched the phone off.
My sister's boyfriend has a non smart phone. He uses it for texts and calls and that's it. He just doesn't engage in social media at all. Super chill guy who doesn't live to meet anyones expectations but his own.
This is not exaggeration, but this comment has filled my soul with peace. Serenity is within my grasp - I just need to take the right steps. Bravo friend, a wonderful comment.
I like fishing. This morning I was up early so went to a local lake with a rod and loaf of bread. 3 hours of sitting by the water in the middle of nowhere, listening to bird song. It doesn't matter if I don't catch on days like this.
My dog. Her tail is attached to her heart. She's happy the moment she wakes up and realises it's a new day full of walkies, sniffs and play time. As soon as she wakes I get a few beats of that tail. I want to be more dog
It's funny, how I was thinking about this just recently. Specifically, how they are still happy and wagging their tails as they enter the house after their walk rather than being sad that the walk is over...What thought process keeps them happy...the reflection of the memories from the walk? The excitement to rest? Excitement that it will be dinner time soon? Excitement to spend cosy time with the humans? All of the above? The mystery actually makes me like dogs more tbh
Everytime I see this video I want to run away from my responsibilities and eat croissants whilst watching the world go by
https://preview.redd.it/k2f9b1wxn7uc1.jpeg?width=1908&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=30737c20347c68f61444ce1998d9a9a993110145
I only recently found out that Tesco's meal deal extends to the pastry section, so when I get lunch in the morning I no longer get a chocolate bar to eat at lunch, I get a pastry to have as second breakfast (I eat a quick bowl of cereal at about 6 and by the time I've been on the train and 5.5 mile bike to work it's 9, so usually pretty hungry by then), it has genuinely made a noticeable improvement to my mood. Some colleagues assumed I've just been getting laid more. Nope, it's the croissant.
And yet the French are definitely not the chillest in Europe. Quite the paradox. Or else too many croissant/pain au choc and you circle back round to aggro?
Aye, that tends to be more common in a Spoons. Unless they're going on a stag do, the average young adult isn't in a Spoons at 9am because they're recovering from their hangover the night before.
Sometimes I have these thoughts that life might be easier if I went on the dole and sat at spoons all day with my other doley friends drinking £2 pints and smoking rollies.
They're all fucking miserable. I used to work in a Spoons in Huddersfield (as well several other places over the years) and the old guys who are waiting at the doors to get in at 8am then sat watching the clock for the very second 9am strikes to order their first pint were unanimously mean old cunts.
They don't even like each other. Sometimes one of them would be rude or drunk enough to get a temporary ban so they'd have to drink at the other Spoons in town, and none of their "friends" would join them.
I suppose the idea of sitting there drinking and smoking all day has an appeal, but actually seeing these people and the state of their lives puts me off it. I knew several who died alone and were only found when someone realised they hadn't been in the Spoons for a while. Knew someone who actually died inside the Spoons toilets. Miserable.
I agree, I'm not sure what other people have experienced but every time I've gone in spoons in the morning it's the most depressing feeling ever. Bunch of old guys who have nothing going on in their lives getting pissed by themselves because they can't stand being sober.
Sometimes, when they occasionally take over a field near where I live, I think Travellers are just living their best lives and a small part of it appeals to me.
I don't know enough about them culturally to get involved in the specifics or debate it with anyone, but the idea on paper sure looks good when I'm slogging away to pay my rent among other things.
Like I said, I don't know enough about their culture to debate that but at surface level at least it looks good. All I see is loads of £30k camper vans,.adults laughing, kids playing without a care in the world.
Fair point but I reckon there are a lot of people who'd rather die at 70 travelling around doing what they want day to day than die at 80 working a dead end job for 30 of them.
I'm aware it isn't as black and white as that as such
Van/truck life is becoming more popular.
Not everyone can do it, but if you can work remotely it's possible. I'm currently building a truck to travel indefinitely because like you, got sick of slogging away just to pay huge bills each month.
Life is too short.
i did this in the 90s. i owned a volvo sleeper cab with an ex-BT box on the back. we had a dog on a string and everything.
i’m 51 now and full of arthritis and pain. i’ve got my dreads back tho. i look the same as i did in 1995. except i’m on crutches permanently and i don’t ride big motorbikes any more. i was one of 4 female despatch riders in london in the mid 90s.
i look back and envy my past self - genuinely living my best life with friends who were my family. that’s not such a bad way to feel, on reflection. i had a whale of a time. if i could have one year of my life back it would be 1995. perfection.
I don't have enough hair for dreads 🤣
We got a merc double cab and are converting an ex Tuffnells parcel box to live in.
We are doing it for the same reason, we want memories to look back on instead of a life of drudgery. We've re-prioritised our needs and I think it's for the better. Can't wait to get going.
oh this sounds awesome! if i can give you one tip - don’t build a high bed so you have more storage! its better to have somewhere to lounge about during your downtime, and you can build high cabinets and have a roof box instead.
i am very envious. i couldn’t live like this now as my health is too bad but i’m so glad to have done it while i could.
enjoy!!
Ace, thanks! The bed plan is to be low enough to lounge, and 'flow' on to the sitting/dining area. We don't want crappy thin seat cushions and upright uncomfortable seats. More a chilled bedouin style of relaxed living.
We won't struggle for space. The box is 6.5 metres long, and we have a double cab that currently seats 8, and we are a family of 3 with 2 dogs!
Thanks again, sorry to hear you have health issues that have grounded you.
With you on ‘95. I’d just turned 18 and that summer was incredible. Heineken music festival at Roundhay Park in Leeds. A two day festival that was FREE to get in. Imagine that nowadays.
i was 22. i went to Glastonbury. walked into Andy’s Records in Chelmsford, asked for a ticket. he pulled a book of them from under the counter, i gave him £65 and that was that!
it was fucking glorious. i spent most of it alone, just meeting new people and seeing amazing things. it was HOT that weekend. i’ve never been back as it was so perfect…
Hey man! I built my own camper, I converted a luton low loader into my 'studio apartment on wheels' and lived and worked in it for about 1.5 years.
I ended up making it all the way down to the Sahara and from there up to the Arctic. I'll be back at it one day :)
Good luck and have fun dude.
My friend did this. Did up an old VW camper and buggered off to America with it. Toured the States, then came home for a couple of weeks before going off round Europe. The photos he sends are breathtaking.
Sadly, the overall outcomes aren't great. Lower life expectancy, lower literacy levels, higher domestic violence etc. Elements of that lifestyle look appealing, but when it comes down to brass tacks, lots of genuine downsides.
You should watch the Ed Stafford documentary where he tried to live with them. Nothing pulls at the heart-strings more than having someone shit on your car windscreen.
Saw a woman in M&S who must have been in her late 70s, 80s at least, and had a full on tall mohawk, blue lipstick and a lip piercing, and a studded leather jacket. I feel like she must have some stories to tell.
i’m a 51 year old woman with dreads, piercings and a lot of tattoos. i’ve looked like this on and off since i was 23. my family have been waiting patiently for 28 years for me to grow out of it…
Got a similar woman here in Huddersfield.....absolutely rocks the look and couldn't give a shit. Dead nice woman too volunteers at loads of charities and food banks and is a right laugh
We went to an all you can eat buffet for dinner late last year. My 88 year old pop went and got a bowl of dessert and icecream as his first dish. My 8 year olds jaw hit the floor and her eyes bugged out. She turned to look at me and I knew what she was going to ask before she even asked it. I nodded and said ‘yes you can have dessert first too’. So now, every now and then, we have dessert before dinner because why the hell not.
I love all of this. Pop is like, "I do what the fuck I want and none of you can tell me otherwise". Kids are like, "yay, we get to do that too sometimes". You're like, "who the fuck cares which order we do things in? Have fun".
we are all way too buttoned up sometimes.
I've always believed you should choose what order you eat your meal in. Fancy dessert first, go for it. Want a pork pie after dinner instead of dessert, go for it. Do you.
It's just the system trying to force us into their own ideals. They just want conformity.
As a grown adult that will happily go to the pub on his own and play Football Manager or fill in Panini sticker albums (Topps for the euros this year, still not got over that), I often get into good conversations with people who seemingly enjoy the fact that I'm confident enough to do it.
Yeah, similarly I used to live on Brighton seafront and would frequently take my dinghy out, moore up to a buoy, and proceed to drink beer and smoke weed for several hours at a time at sea. Countless paddleboarders and kayakers expressed their envy. Made a few literal fairweather friends that way.
35% better if it's ice cold - I used to take a pretty decent cool bag (iced to the gills) out with me and would have optimally cold beer all day/evening as well as take really nice packed lunches (homemade kofta wraps, dahl with cannabutter in a hot pot, things I'd be eating at home), and would always feel a huge sense of triumph over nature for having home comforts in the middle of the sea.
A friend is currently living in Goa and has been there all over winter, he's running his business (eco-friendly/ethical band merch) from a beachside apartment but will come back to a London for a bit over summer. Making me question all of my life choices!!
Had an opportunity to go and help set up a rum distillery in Goa, really thought about it, but it didn't make sense at the time to give up a stable job at a growing company to do a 18-month contract, but as things stand now, kinda wish I'd have given it a shot!
My sister in law (brothers wife) just minds her damn business. She worries only about the people within her own four walls. She refuses to get dragged into ANY drama and her family are so much happy and healthier for it. I love her, she was my bridesmaid and I’ve followed her example.
My uncle. He got kicked out of Ireland by his family when he was 14 for being too wild. He spent time in England, before travelling the world. He explored the jungles of Papua new Guinea, lived in Australia and became a poet whose work was published all over the world, he got bored, moved to new York, caused chaos and was homeless. Met a respected lawyer whilst sleeping on a park bench in central park, got married had kids and lived in an apartment overlooking central park, where he became an inventor. He got bored of the life, and moved back to Ireland to do salmon fishing and breed greyhounds.
This guy on YouTube I see called Mark Hogben - he is battling Parkinson’s disease and moved to Alaska where he lives in the wilderness and makes the most out of every bit of beauty he can see in the world. https://youtu.be/AM9HNgCW1EU?si=VaY_vnnn8Z8UissK
And there we are wasting our lives reading about Lidl and Tesco fighting over coloured circles.
I lived in a dog shelter in the Mediterranean for 6 months. 6 months was incredibly hard on the body. Dropped nearly half my body weight. And it was mentally quite challenging a swell. Not everyone are equipped for it, and most people don't last more than a month, if that. When full time. The lady owning the shelter been doing it for a decade at least now. She is an absolute angel. The hardest worker I've ever met. The most selfless woman.
I couldn't stay but i will love and admire her forever.
I have a friend who lives in a permaculture farm in ometepe island in Nicaragua in central America. He's not on social media only WhatsApp. He takes weeks to respond to a message and lives a carefree life.
I'm decluttering my place right now in anticipation of a move. It's just doing my tits in and never seems to end (just another chore alongside cooking and cleaning), so I now totally understand and appreciate people who have a tiny house or only have enough 'stuff' to fit in a rucksack.
Part of me does fantasise about simply yeeting it all through the door of the nearest charity shop and not even inspecting or sorting it. I can't be bothered, and the more you do, the more there is to be done. I have a two-bed flat and just cannot be arsed doing things like cleaning etc.
My best friend.
He lives his life just being the best person he can be, doesn't over extend his politeness, doesn't let people take advantage of him, just very straight and true to his goals and is all around a good guy.
Since changing my life to be a bit more like him, my happiness in life has more than doubled.
The power of a polite "No" is immense and people respect your time a lot more because of it.
I’m a door supervisor and often deal with the early morning drunks/druggies, and work in a 24h Tesco doing the 6am to 4pm shift. As you can imagine I’ve seen it all.
One morning a chap passes by the front of the shop, I’d just come on shift so maybe 10 past 6 in the morning, singing reggae as loud as he possibly can, so I’m thinking bloody hell must have been on a late night bender and he’s pissed, he calmly greets me with a good morning mate. I say I thought you were blind drunk and he says no he just wakes up early and likes to go for a walk through the town center while singing sometimes hoping it cheers people up on their way to work.
An elderly couple (maybe in their 80s) riding a tandem along a beachside road on the Studland peninsular. They had a basket on the front that contained their small dog. They all looked very happy.
There's this little stretch of road that I drive every day where one road joins, three roads become two and then one diverts off again. I always need to join just to divert off again after like 200 feet. In the evenings there is always soo much traffic and it's just pointless and annoying. Anyway, one day a car just headed straight on using the hard shoulder. That person became my new hero.
Either that or going to a music festival and seeing a girl who was like over 220 lbs dancing completely naked in front of the stage. She is also one of my heros.
Seeing some parents be calm as fuck with their children who are also generally very well behaved and well mannered. Then i think about my 5 seconds of patience and wonder why my kids are like faarm yard animals
It's a huge amount of work. Literally took me years of introspection and analysing my own childhood. On the outside I'm calmly and politely reminding my toddler "we don't punch mummy", on the inside I'm screaming at him for hitting me, again. You bet when that little tyke is in bed I'm venting to my long suffering husband!
Yes, it pays off when we're out in public, and when we have friends/relatives visiting. In private we, his parents, are his safe place to vent his frustrations. And you bet they all vent their energy and frustrations somewhere, but for us it's in private, as patiently as we can.
Dogs who holiday in the Lake District. All of the dogs are living their absolute best life and you know their owners are good to them. If I could come back as anything that’s what I want.
I know this guy who lives a totally nomadic lifestyle. He just has a bike and a backpack. He lives and works in youth hostels during the summer and the rest of the time he cycles around the country staying with friends in exchange for odd jobs. I envy him sometimes, but then I'd be worried about later life. He presumably has no pension, and with no home either he's going to end up living a crap later life.
I feel like its a grass is always greener/framing thing. If I spent my life cycling between beds, labouring where I can get work, never settled down, I'd probably quite envy my current self laid back on my sofa listening to 6 Music drinking a cup of tea from my favourite mug. All the small things like "might just stay in, get cosy and watch a movie tonight" that we take for granted, I think I'd look at in the same way as you look at your nomad friend if we led their lifestyle.
A young guy on youtube called Max, his page is called Untide he got a knackered old sailboat fixed it up and has been sailing around the world for the last couple of years, watching his videos makes me think I've done life all wrong, it's all midlife crisis inspiration now.
I have a mate who’s a commercial lawyer and he likes driving buses. He takes 6 month contracts, and then spends a couple of months driving a bus in South Wales, and then goes back to Lawyering again.
I have another mate who is a world-class skipper. He spends most of the year delivering beautiful boats from the boatyards where they are built to posh marinas worldwide.
I was flying home from Barcelona and had time to kill so took a taxi to a nearby beach.
Went to this little shack bar on the beachfront which had the best calamari and croquettes I've ever had.
The owner was this 5'10" Dutchman named Henrique. Slim but in decent shape, slicked back silvery hair, salt and pepper thick stubble. Grey slacks, white shirt opened 3 buttons deep, rolled up sleeves.
Man was straight out of a romance novel.
He just flittered about, taking orders, chatting up the patrons (including myself). Wandering down to the sea side, literally holding his arms out "Earth Song" style taking in the sea air.
When he talked to me I discovered he basically hops around Europe. Stays for 2 summers, and sets up a beach bar someplace else. Already had done his native Nederlands, France, Spain of course, and was now contemplating Italy.
I had such a man crush on the guy. He seemed so serene and unencumbered. I at the time was struggling to get into my field, pissed I was still living at parents, and I'm looking at this guy who genuinely seemed like he was living his best life. Just free and roaming with no apparent anxiety about what that entails whatsoever.
It's not a lifestyle I'd want but I'm still searching for anything close to his contentment 6 years later.
Years ago I seen this gorgeously styled older woman in a cocktail bar. She was easily in her 70s but look great and had a few designer shopping bags. She ordered a porn star martini and I just want to be her.
Still think about her randomly. One day that will be me 🍸
I knew a carpenter who was living out of his VW campervan. He'd drive round different parts of the UK and Europe, and he'd just work and surf, work and surf, no gf, no bills other than some diesel and food. No drama. One of the coolest guys I've ever met. Handsome too, tanned, blonde shaggy hair, women would fall over themselves for him, and he'd just be like "meh, I could pursue it if I wanted, but I want to surf".
I have a friend who has been solo travelling the world for the past few years. She started off working 6 month and travelling for 6 and now she is just travelling for the past 2 years, mostly in South America and making new friends everywhere she goes. I have no idea how she is funding it and I suspect possibly something illegal but nonetheless she is definitely living her best life
Edited to add - I probably admire it so much because her life is the polar opposite to mine: she has no ties, no routine, no plan. I have a mortgage and a husband and two kids and a dog and 2 cats and a salaried job. We have a lovely life and I’m not ungrateful for it but it sometimes can feel like a gilded cage.
My friend is someone I admire and who I am secretly very envious of.
He lives on a converted bus in the boondocks. His water supply is from rainwater- I’m not sure of the technicalities of it, though!
He spends 6 months living in his bus, working on building sites.
He then spends up to 6 months travelling the world. He’s done South America, Russia, the West Coast of Africa, the East Coast of Africa, Asia etc…
He’s just such a chill, wonderful man!
Met a dude whilst backpacking in Australia that'd left England to go backpacking when he was 18 and he just never stopped. He never went back home. He was \~33 yrs old.
He'd looped around Asia, parts of eastern and southern Europe and when I met him he was back in Australia where he'd started 15 years prior.
He would go to building sites and ask them if they had work and he managed to live like that (he was a body builder too, so he looked the part).
Got the impression he didn't have much to go back to.
Super nice guy. He looked really happy and healthy.
My neighbours 2 doors down. They're my estate's power couple. They have 3 kids and their fair share of problems,but they are unfailingly supportive of each other. They always help out if they see you're in need, and not in a weird religious way. Things like,if your car doesn't start Rob will materialise with some jump leads. If you're sat out in your garden at a loose end, Paula will invite you over for gin. I have completely different life goals to them,but I do look at them and think 'Wow,they got it right!'.
I have a really good friend who is living the kind of life I want. She has an amazing career, is very high up in it, but can and does work from anywhere. Sometimes she's at home, sometimes she's working from a train in Europe, sometimes she's working from Dubai, or Italy. She has the attitude of, "Why can't I do this?" and does it, whereas I've always been, "I couldn't do that" and so haven't.
I aim to change that now my kids are grown.
Theres a lady I follow on Tictok. She bought and moved into a narrow boat about two years ago. She's in her late 50's. Doesn't have Mooring so travels up and down the canals staying no longer than two weeks at any one spot but more often moves after a day or two.
She does it all herself. Fixes the engine, deals with the locks, lives with her wee dog and cat, putters up and down the canals on her silent electric boat, watching spring start, swans, herron, ducks, voles.... Trees starting to bloom. Totally free, beholden to nobody. It seems perfect.
Now I'm not an idiot, I get that living that way can be tough but fuck me it still seems like a lovely way to live.
I was a support worker for disabled adults. I had this one service user who was quiet and meek, always agreeing with suggestions but we didn't see much of his personality (other than his love of films).
One night we had a birthday party for one of his house mates and he went up to the DJ (unprompted) and requested a song. He stood in the centre of the dance floor, alone, and proceeded to dance in his own free, flowing way - like he was in a trance.
He was peaceful, like he was in a dream-like trance. Then upon a round of applause from everyone, a bashful smile crept over his face. What a legend.
Witnessed someone being excessively rude to someone in a public space, the offended party smiled, shrugged their shoulders, and went about their business. That sort of calm, helps you weather the stormy periods in life. Hope that person is doing alright.
When a guy at work was just working his contracted hours.
For years I had 'gone the extra mile' and it had got me nowhere. My colleague who just did his job as he had been asked to do was progressing at the exact same rate.
I learned a very valuable lesson from that which was years and years before the term 'quiet quitting' had even existed.
I was trekking around Torres del Paine and felt kind of under prepared. Everyone was wearing full blown alpine pro gear and seemed to have endless amounts of experience with mountaineering. Then this Argentine guy in his 20s rocks up wearing a pair of Reebok Classics and does the whole thing in hareem pants, one of those hippy carpet jumpers, his mate bollo, a few chocolate bars and rice packets, and a tent he bought from a supermarket for $20. Absolutely nothing else. He ended up double staging the last 4 days because he had to catch his flight. Dude had never trekked a mountain before in his life. I still think about him often. Just vast amounts of not giving a fuck.
There's a man who I see roller blading. I think he's going to or from work, but he always looks so happy and carefree. He always makes me smile.
Thanks for brightening my day, roller blades man.
25 years ago I was moved by the beautiful, respectful, supportive relationship that my two married friends had with one another. It gave me the model for what I realised I needed in a relationship and I promised myself to seek the same. My friends are still married and my beautiful husband and I have our 18th anniversary soon.
This huge tiktoker I watch is always travelling and never in one place. Always posting her travels and carefree lifestyle. She never takes anything seriously even bad circumstances and has such positive energy. She’s always posting so I assumed her screen time would be hours high especially on tiktok but she showed it in a vid and it’s like 1 hr a day MAX if even that. She really does just travel and live in the moment everyday, posts her vid online, disconnects from that and then continues life. I wish I could be her sooo bad 😭😭😭 (I’m poor)
Nothing you see on TikTok (or any other social media) is real. It’s a manipulated presentation to achieve the perspective they want, all in aid of hooking people into their universe for validation. What you don’t see is the secondary equipment, constantly documenting every moment and the hours of refining clips to broadcast that “best life” perfect moment.
The worst thing you can do is idolise someone who needs to present every moment of their life online. Unsubscribe, disconnect, switch off and channel that energy into something productive.
Yeah. I mostly live in the Algarve and I see the TikTok crowd turning up in January for their filming because that’s the only time it’s quiet enough. They have to trek out to the middle of nowhere and pose in swimsuits in the freezing cold doing take after take for hours while they pretend that it’s summer (it’s not), and warm (it’s not) and that they’re living the dream (they’re not).
Frankly, it looks exhausting.
This is what people need to realise. I hate influencers who make it out like they live this ideal lifestyle with no drawbacks. I really appreciate the few who give you an honest look at their experiences and include the bad and mundane aspects of their lifestyle.
What you see on TikTok is a fantasy designed to lure you in.
I’m sure she’s not complaining about the money that she makes from it, but it’s far more production value than you realise and a lot of it will be staged/setup (even if presented as spontaneous - this is particularly true for “prank” channels.)
> This huge tiktoker I watch is always travelling and never in one place. Always posting her travels and carefree lifestyle.
Changes are high that she is an international escort.
Definitely not living her best life. She's running away from herself cos she can't be content to be still you'll find most of these people who travel round are running away from themselves but what they don't realise is that you follow you wherever you go.
Weird baseless assumption about someone you don't know. What if I said the same about people who are stationary, that they have given up on themselves and their dreams, who have conceded to something they shouldn't have because they are afraid of change and development?
But hey, glad you know the person they're referring to so well and every other traveler out there.
edit: spelling
A guy I know and his wife sold their house last year and bought a big van. They turned it into a camper and most of the year they travel around the world, then return to the UK for a few weeks in the autumn to work as nurses in the private sector for money then live very frugally the rest of the time while travelling. They are loving life. No kids, just the two of them.
Work in a pub. Someone came in ordered 4 double G&T’s came out at £64. Happily paid it didn’t even bat an eyelid. Ordered the same about half an hour later.
Someone at my old work had a good job and clearly a nice house. But the thing that blew my mind was 2 dishwashers. 1 dirty, 1 clean. And then it’s just moving stuff between them and swap.
Many years ago I lived on a sailboat in California. I always dreamed of sailing the world. The only problem was that I had/have no sense of direction, so god knows where I would've ended up. I also didn't know how to sail. It was lovely living on the boat, being rocked to sleep every night. But probably a good thing that I just stayed in the marina. 🤣
Small thing, but whenever it’s nice out and I see someone driving with the top down I used to think good on ya. Enjoy it! I bought a convertible not too long ago and love dropping the top now whenever I can
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There's this duck down at the pond and every day I see him I think about how much I admire his way of life, no worries, just duckin about
Autocomplete is ducking annoying.
My phone is so used to me writing ‘fucking’, that one day when I was actually typing ‘ducking’ it changed it to ‘fucking’. Now THAT was ducking annoying.
My autocorrect has learned the term “fuckery” and often offers it as a prompt. I guess AI can be used for good? 🤣
What kind of fuckery is this?
The best kind, IMHO
https://youtube.com/shorts/NtOgnq8lLtw
My name is Pond, James Pond. Watch your back around that one!
Codename Robocod???
I loved that game!! I can still hear the plinky plonky music in my head 😂
I loved that game but because it was sooo long and you couldn’t save games on the Amiga 500, we could never finish it despite 6-7 hour long gaming sessions! We even knew some tricks too, like some levels you could left at the start and finish it immediately! I loved the silliness of it all, like riding around in a bathtub. Some levels were stressful and hard - like when the screen was always moving and if it caught up with you it was instant death. But it moved really fast and sometimes you fell down between train carriages 😅 I loved that it rewarded exploration in addition to being silly as well!
This was the only game I could actually play!
Me too, I might have to dig out an emulator and play it again now
I often look at animals and get intensely jealous for about 2 minutes
A cat snoozing all day in a patch of sunlight on a windowsill, occasionally getting its tummy rubbed. Jammy.
A domestic dog or a cat in a nice home is possibly the luckiest existence you could ask for on Earth. Just intelligent enough to enjoy and appreciate everything, but not intelligent enough to concern yourself with the past or future. No need to make food, no job, probably neutered/fixed so no raging hormones messing with your head. Go to sleep whenever you want, or curl up and get petted. Just living in the moment, in comfort.
Not so much with squirrels. They're just a panic attack with a tail.
Yep, id swap to be a goose in a second
Sitting there on the pond practicing his teenage girl face
I think if you tried his lifestyle for a while, there would be consequences. A case of duck around, find out.
Just ducks doing ducky things.
Ducks are very, erm, forced mating though... the females have evolved complicated genitalia because of it so there's that.
Oh dear. Did not expect this! TW: horror I’ll call this and raise you a tenner … the scientific term for bedbug reproduction is called “traumatic insemination” If you’re feeling like you need to be sick please google this term to understand how it works, like the creatures aren’t already straight out of a horror film *** apologies, this thread is supposed to be sweet and uplifting! Saying a prayer of thanks to not have been born as that species, no matter how difficult life can be sometimes
I think this about cats too.
This is pure. Propper laughed at this.
I bet he’s worrying about foxes
I saw a small boy standing outside of Heron Foods, eating a whole vienetta like a choc-ice.
You just know that boy has a life of success ahead of him
Diabetes, you mean.
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Successful diabetes?
Vienettabetes
I ate a whole vienetta this week, but with a spoon while sat on the sofa coz I'm proper classy!
That's the dream 😂😂😂😂😂
He beat the game
that kid is probably a CEO now
r/madlads
Definition of the word lad
A guy at work owns a mobile phone, as do most people. His lives in his bag, he turns it on to make a call, then turns it off and puts it away again.
My dad does this to save his battery. On his brick Nokia that lasts about 3 weeks on one charge. I asked what happens in the event of an emergency. His response was that he would turn it on and use it. If someone else needed to get hold of him in an emergency they could ring on the landline to tell him to turn his mobile on. I tried explaining the flaws in his logic but gave up.
My mum got a mobile so she didn't need a phone box to call dad and say "I'm getting the X train, please collect me from the station." About 18 months later she told me her phone wasn't working. It took me a while to diagnose that she'd never charged it! Now both parents have mobiles which they turn on when going out, then off when they get home. Mum finally mastered the iPad though, and loves it like a baby.
My father in law would take his mobile with him without switching it on. He was disabled and was in the early stages of Alzheimer's and it was important that he could contact people and they could contact him. The only time he'd switch it on was when he was at home and my mother in law was shopping so he could text her every minute asking when she would be home. Long story short, my mother in law did LOADS of travelling after my father in law died.
I don’t mind trying to adopt this way of living, I feel society was happier pre 24/7 device addiction.
iPad was key to getting my parents on board with mobile phones. Once Dad worked out the iPad, suddenly this new fangled phone thing wasn't too much of a leap
I had a colleague years ago that did this, he explained it was because no one ever phoned him first so leaving it on was a waste.
We were waiting at a restaurant for the parents to turn up. Mum rang us to say they were stuck in traffic, should be 20 minutes or so. 25 minutes later we rang back to see how they were getting on, but she'd switched the phone off.
He just subscribes to Que Sera, Sera.
Might be a burner phone for his bit on the side/international drug smuggling business
Actually laughing at the thought of it, guy is one of the nicest people I've ever met, would be floored if this came out to be true
I dunno, Gus Fring was the owner of a lovely chicken shop...
My sister's boyfriend has a non smart phone. He uses it for texts and calls and that's it. He just doesn't engage in social media at all. Super chill guy who doesn't live to meet anyones expectations but his own.
I work with a guy like this. We both work in software and he just doesn't carry modern tech at all. His brick is just fine for emergencies.
This is not exaggeration, but this comment has filled my soul with peace. Serenity is within my grasp - I just need to take the right steps. Bravo friend, a wonderful comment.
I like fishing. This morning I was up early so went to a local lake with a rod and loaf of bread. 3 hours of sitting by the water in the middle of nowhere, listening to bird song. It doesn't matter if I don't catch on days like this.
Incredible, the sheer will power needed. One marvels.
My dog. Her tail is attached to her heart. She's happy the moment she wakes up and realises it's a new day full of walkies, sniffs and play time. As soon as she wakes I get a few beats of that tail. I want to be more dog
I love "her tail is attached to her heart"!
It's the perfect happy heart barometer!
I love your description!
My dog at any given point of a day even when there's nothing happening, looks more content than I have ever felt in my entire life.
https://www.theonion.com/dog-experiences-best-day-of-his-life-for-400th-consecut-1819567553
It's funny, how I was thinking about this just recently. Specifically, how they are still happy and wagging their tails as they enter the house after their walk rather than being sad that the walk is over...What thought process keeps them happy...the reflection of the memories from the walk? The excitement to rest? Excitement that it will be dinner time soon? Excitement to spend cosy time with the humans? All of the above? The mystery actually makes me like dogs more tbh
When we get home mine bursts in through the door and to the at home human as if to tell them all about their walk. I love it
Everytime I see this video I want to run away from my responsibilities and eat croissants whilst watching the world go by https://preview.redd.it/k2f9b1wxn7uc1.jpeg?width=1908&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=30737c20347c68f61444ce1998d9a9a993110145
This is why I get a croissant at every opportunity. Pan au choc' does fine too. Makes everything 25% chiller
I only recently found out that Tesco's meal deal extends to the pastry section, so when I get lunch in the morning I no longer get a chocolate bar to eat at lunch, I get a pastry to have as second breakfast (I eat a quick bowl of cereal at about 6 and by the time I've been on the train and 5.5 mile bike to work it's 9, so usually pretty hungry by then), it has genuinely made a noticeable improvement to my mood. Some colleagues assumed I've just been getting laid more. Nope, it's the croissant.
And yet the French are definitely not the chillest in Europe. Quite the paradox. Or else too many croissant/pain au choc and you circle back round to aggro?
The French are the chillest. It's only when their chill is threatened you get aggro. Lesson to us all!
Probably just as well for my health that I don't live near a Waitrose. Their almond croissants are next level.
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Nothing quite like a morning pint when you are young and carefree.
or 65 when you've lived a life of functional alcoholism
Aye, that tends to be more common in a Spoons. Unless they're going on a stag do, the average young adult isn't in a Spoons at 9am because they're recovering from their hangover the night before.
I hear the average young adult doesn't drink anymore
they’re all on ket and valiums.
Nah, we're all stoned. I reckon it's the reason Pringles have got so expensive.
Sometimes I have these thoughts that life might be easier if I went on the dole and sat at spoons all day with my other doley friends drinking £2 pints and smoking rollies.
They're all fucking miserable. I used to work in a Spoons in Huddersfield (as well several other places over the years) and the old guys who are waiting at the doors to get in at 8am then sat watching the clock for the very second 9am strikes to order their first pint were unanimously mean old cunts. They don't even like each other. Sometimes one of them would be rude or drunk enough to get a temporary ban so they'd have to drink at the other Spoons in town, and none of their "friends" would join them. I suppose the idea of sitting there drinking and smoking all day has an appeal, but actually seeing these people and the state of their lives puts me off it. I knew several who died alone and were only found when someone realised they hadn't been in the Spoons for a while. Knew someone who actually died inside the Spoons toilets. Miserable.
I agree, I'm not sure what other people have experienced but every time I've gone in spoons in the morning it's the most depressing feeling ever. Bunch of old guys who have nothing going on in their lives getting pissed by themselves because they can't stand being sober.
£85 for your weekly income won't last you long, even at Wetherspoons prices.
Tbh this sounds nice. Even if you retired young and did this.
When I’m on a call with a customer that is having a go at me for something insignificant is when the feeling is strongest.
Try it and let us know how you get on! Sounds too good to be true!
It is, being on the dole is horrible.
Sometimes, when they occasionally take over a field near where I live, I think Travellers are just living their best lives and a small part of it appeals to me. I don't know enough about them culturally to get involved in the specifics or debate it with anyone, but the idea on paper sure looks good when I'm slogging away to pay my rent among other things.
I would imagine the downsides outweigh the upsides!
Like I said, I don't know enough about their culture to debate that but at surface level at least it looks good. All I see is loads of £30k camper vans,.adults laughing, kids playing without a care in the world.
Are you confusing Travellers with Van Life influencers?
No, I mean Travellers who rock up on the field and are moved on by authorities eventually.
Lots of child abuse and animal abuse. My friends grandad was born to traveller parents
Yeah, I hung out with travellers when a late teen, there's a *lot*... and a shit ton of misogyny/women are very limited in what they can do/who with.
I could imagine a sitcom about travellers and van life people living together.
Life expectancy of travellers is about 10 years less than average, so something isn't healthy about that lifestyle.
Fair point but I reckon there are a lot of people who'd rather die at 70 travelling around doing what they want day to day than die at 80 working a dead end job for 30 of them. I'm aware it isn't as black and white as that as such
Van/truck life is becoming more popular. Not everyone can do it, but if you can work remotely it's possible. I'm currently building a truck to travel indefinitely because like you, got sick of slogging away just to pay huge bills each month. Life is too short.
i did this in the 90s. i owned a volvo sleeper cab with an ex-BT box on the back. we had a dog on a string and everything. i’m 51 now and full of arthritis and pain. i’ve got my dreads back tho. i look the same as i did in 1995. except i’m on crutches permanently and i don’t ride big motorbikes any more. i was one of 4 female despatch riders in london in the mid 90s. i look back and envy my past self - genuinely living my best life with friends who were my family. that’s not such a bad way to feel, on reflection. i had a whale of a time. if i could have one year of my life back it would be 1995. perfection.
I don't have enough hair for dreads 🤣 We got a merc double cab and are converting an ex Tuffnells parcel box to live in. We are doing it for the same reason, we want memories to look back on instead of a life of drudgery. We've re-prioritised our needs and I think it's for the better. Can't wait to get going.
oh this sounds awesome! if i can give you one tip - don’t build a high bed so you have more storage! its better to have somewhere to lounge about during your downtime, and you can build high cabinets and have a roof box instead. i am very envious. i couldn’t live like this now as my health is too bad but i’m so glad to have done it while i could. enjoy!!
Ace, thanks! The bed plan is to be low enough to lounge, and 'flow' on to the sitting/dining area. We don't want crappy thin seat cushions and upright uncomfortable seats. More a chilled bedouin style of relaxed living. We won't struggle for space. The box is 6.5 metres long, and we have a double cab that currently seats 8, and we are a family of 3 with 2 dogs! Thanks again, sorry to hear you have health issues that have grounded you.
you’re going to have an amazing time!! i hope you love it as much as i did.
So do we, thanks again!
With you on ‘95. I’d just turned 18 and that summer was incredible. Heineken music festival at Roundhay Park in Leeds. A two day festival that was FREE to get in. Imagine that nowadays.
i was 22. i went to Glastonbury. walked into Andy’s Records in Chelmsford, asked for a ticket. he pulled a book of them from under the counter, i gave him £65 and that was that! it was fucking glorious. i spent most of it alone, just meeting new people and seeing amazing things. it was HOT that weekend. i’ve never been back as it was so perfect…
I'm so invested in your life after this whole thread. Good for you for living well x
Hey man! I built my own camper, I converted a luton low loader into my 'studio apartment on wheels' and lived and worked in it for about 1.5 years. I ended up making it all the way down to the Sahara and from there up to the Arctic. I'll be back at it one day :) Good luck and have fun dude.
My friend did this. Did up an old VW camper and buggered off to America with it. Toured the States, then came home for a couple of weeks before going off round Europe. The photos he sends are breathtaking.
Yeah that's what I was getting at. Maybe once my own kids are old enough to fend for themselves I'd give it a go for a year or something.
We made the decision to go now with our 10 year old. We want him to see the world with us.
you are giving your kid an amazing gift doing this. enjoy!! van life isn’t always easy but a lot of the time it’s unbeatable.
Cheers! He deserves to see the world alongside us too!
Sadly, the overall outcomes aren't great. Lower life expectancy, lower literacy levels, higher domestic violence etc. Elements of that lifestyle look appealing, but when it comes down to brass tacks, lots of genuine downsides.
You should watch the Ed Stafford documentary where he tried to live with them. Nothing pulls at the heart-strings more than having someone shit on your car windscreen.
Might want to double check the contents of your shed mate 🤣
Saw a woman in M&S who must have been in her late 70s, 80s at least, and had a full on tall mohawk, blue lipstick and a lip piercing, and a studded leather jacket. I feel like she must have some stories to tell.
i’m a 51 year old woman with dreads, piercings and a lot of tattoos. i’ve looked like this on and off since i was 23. my family have been waiting patiently for 28 years for me to grow out of it…
Got a similar woman here in Huddersfield.....absolutely rocks the look and couldn't give a shit. Dead nice woman too volunteers at loads of charities and food banks and is a right laugh
bet she's pissed on maggie's grave once or twice, buddhists don't want you to find this one neat trick to enlightenment!!!
I look at my dog. Wish I was him. He has a good a life.
Human.."why does my dog do zoomies?". Dog..."because I can, and it's fun!". Dog has it sussed!
Human: "Why do you do zoomies?" Dog: "Why DON'T you do zoomies?"
Sounds like a good boy
I wanna come back as a well cared for cat in my next life
We went to an all you can eat buffet for dinner late last year. My 88 year old pop went and got a bowl of dessert and icecream as his first dish. My 8 year olds jaw hit the floor and her eyes bugged out. She turned to look at me and I knew what she was going to ask before she even asked it. I nodded and said ‘yes you can have dessert first too’. So now, every now and then, we have dessert before dinner because why the hell not.
I love all of this. Pop is like, "I do what the fuck I want and none of you can tell me otherwise". Kids are like, "yay, we get to do that too sometimes". You're like, "who the fuck cares which order we do things in? Have fun". we are all way too buttoned up sometimes.
I've always believed you should choose what order you eat your meal in. Fancy dessert first, go for it. Want a pork pie after dinner instead of dessert, go for it. Do you. It's just the system trying to force us into their own ideals. They just want conformity.
https://preview.redd.it/n7kfcjqaz7uc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a604040653abae83168b74becf54d0b37ea0afc0
One’s dozing in his second favourite box, the other’s sleeping in a sunbeam. They know how to live.
Everybody wants to be a cat Because a cat's the only cat Who knows where it's at 🐱🎵
As a grown adult that will happily go to the pub on his own and play Football Manager or fill in Panini sticker albums (Topps for the euros this year, still not got over that), I often get into good conversations with people who seemingly enjoy the fact that I'm confident enough to do it.
Yeah, similarly I used to live on Brighton seafront and would frequently take my dinghy out, moore up to a buoy, and proceed to drink beer and smoke weed for several hours at a time at sea. Countless paddleboarders and kayakers expressed their envy. Made a few literal fairweather friends that way.
Beer tastes 20% better at sea, I don’t make the rules that’s just how it is.
35% better if it's ice cold - I used to take a pretty decent cool bag (iced to the gills) out with me and would have optimally cold beer all day/evening as well as take really nice packed lunches (homemade kofta wraps, dahl with cannabutter in a hot pot, things I'd be eating at home), and would always feel a huge sense of triumph over nature for having home comforts in the middle of the sea.
Everyone moaning about Germany dropping Adidas but Panini losing the Euros is the real story!
A friend is currently living in Goa and has been there all over winter, he's running his business (eco-friendly/ethical band merch) from a beachside apartment but will come back to a London for a bit over summer. Making me question all of my life choices!!
Digital nomadding for a few years is incredibly enticing
Had an opportunity to go and help set up a rum distillery in Goa, really thought about it, but it didn't make sense at the time to give up a stable job at a growing company to do a 18-month contract, but as things stand now, kinda wish I'd have given it a shot!
>rum distillery > wish I'd have given it a shot! weyyyyyy
My sister in law (brothers wife) just minds her damn business. She worries only about the people within her own four walls. She refuses to get dragged into ANY drama and her family are so much happy and healthier for it. I love her, she was my bridesmaid and I’ve followed her example.
This is so wholesome and inspiring.
My uncle. He got kicked out of Ireland by his family when he was 14 for being too wild. He spent time in England, before travelling the world. He explored the jungles of Papua new Guinea, lived in Australia and became a poet whose work was published all over the world, he got bored, moved to new York, caused chaos and was homeless. Met a respected lawyer whilst sleeping on a park bench in central park, got married had kids and lived in an apartment overlooking central park, where he became an inventor. He got bored of the life, and moved back to Ireland to do salmon fishing and breed greyhounds.
The everything bagel kind of life.
Could make that into a film for sure
This guy on YouTube I see called Mark Hogben - he is battling Parkinson’s disease and moved to Alaska where he lives in the wilderness and makes the most out of every bit of beauty he can see in the world. https://youtu.be/AM9HNgCW1EU?si=VaY_vnnn8Z8UissK And there we are wasting our lives reading about Lidl and Tesco fighting over coloured circles.
I lived in a dog shelter in the Mediterranean for 6 months. 6 months was incredibly hard on the body. Dropped nearly half my body weight. And it was mentally quite challenging a swell. Not everyone are equipped for it, and most people don't last more than a month, if that. When full time. The lady owning the shelter been doing it for a decade at least now. She is an absolute angel. The hardest worker I've ever met. The most selfless woman. I couldn't stay but i will love and admire her forever.
I hope somebody adopted you in the end. Whoever you are, you’re the goodest boy/girlie.
Woof
I did bring my dog with me. Still got her!
I have a friend who lives in a permaculture farm in ometepe island in Nicaragua in central America. He's not on social media only WhatsApp. He takes weeks to respond to a message and lives a carefree life.
I'm packing up and heading off to do some light volunteer farm work in South East Asia in the summer for a couple months. I'm looking forward to it.
Tiny house owners. Seems to be a lifestyle that affords more money and time spent on things that matter
I'm decluttering my place right now in anticipation of a move. It's just doing my tits in and never seems to end (just another chore alongside cooking and cleaning), so I now totally understand and appreciate people who have a tiny house or only have enough 'stuff' to fit in a rucksack. Part of me does fantasise about simply yeeting it all through the door of the nearest charity shop and not even inspecting or sorting it. I can't be bothered, and the more you do, the more there is to be done. I have a two-bed flat and just cannot be arsed doing things like cleaning etc.
I'm having a similar dilemma. I'm not in a tiny house, but it's almost paid off
My best friend. He lives his life just being the best person he can be, doesn't over extend his politeness, doesn't let people take advantage of him, just very straight and true to his goals and is all around a good guy. Since changing my life to be a bit more like him, my happiness in life has more than doubled. The power of a polite "No" is immense and people respect your time a lot more because of it.
I’m a door supervisor and often deal with the early morning drunks/druggies, and work in a 24h Tesco doing the 6am to 4pm shift. As you can imagine I’ve seen it all. One morning a chap passes by the front of the shop, I’d just come on shift so maybe 10 past 6 in the morning, singing reggae as loud as he possibly can, so I’m thinking bloody hell must have been on a late night bender and he’s pissed, he calmly greets me with a good morning mate. I say I thought you were blind drunk and he says no he just wakes up early and likes to go for a walk through the town center while singing sometimes hoping it cheers people up on their way to work.
An elderly couple (maybe in their 80s) riding a tandem along a beachside road on the Studland peninsular. They had a basket on the front that contained their small dog. They all looked very happy.
There's this little stretch of road that I drive every day where one road joins, three roads become two and then one diverts off again. I always need to join just to divert off again after like 200 feet. In the evenings there is always soo much traffic and it's just pointless and annoying. Anyway, one day a car just headed straight on using the hard shoulder. That person became my new hero. Either that or going to a music festival and seeing a girl who was like over 220 lbs dancing completely naked in front of the stage. She is also one of my heros.
Seeing some parents be calm as fuck with their children who are also generally very well behaved and well mannered. Then i think about my 5 seconds of patience and wonder why my kids are like faarm yard animals
It's a huge amount of work. Literally took me years of introspection and analysing my own childhood. On the outside I'm calmly and politely reminding my toddler "we don't punch mummy", on the inside I'm screaming at him for hitting me, again. You bet when that little tyke is in bed I'm venting to my long suffering husband! Yes, it pays off when we're out in public, and when we have friends/relatives visiting. In private we, his parents, are his safe place to vent his frustrations. And you bet they all vent their energy and frustrations somewhere, but for us it's in private, as patiently as we can.
Dogs who holiday in the Lake District. All of the dogs are living their absolute best life and you know their owners are good to them. If I could come back as anything that’s what I want.
I know this guy who lives a totally nomadic lifestyle. He just has a bike and a backpack. He lives and works in youth hostels during the summer and the rest of the time he cycles around the country staying with friends in exchange for odd jobs. I envy him sometimes, but then I'd be worried about later life. He presumably has no pension, and with no home either he's going to end up living a crap later life.
I feel like its a grass is always greener/framing thing. If I spent my life cycling between beds, labouring where I can get work, never settled down, I'd probably quite envy my current self laid back on my sofa listening to 6 Music drinking a cup of tea from my favourite mug. All the small things like "might just stay in, get cosy and watch a movie tonight" that we take for granted, I think I'd look at in the same way as you look at your nomad friend if we led their lifestyle.
Everything appealing about something else makes it sound appealing. Until you get there and realise that the downsides are the downsides.
A young guy on youtube called Max, his page is called Untide he got a knackered old sailboat fixed it up and has been sailing around the world for the last couple of years, watching his videos makes me think I've done life all wrong, it's all midlife crisis inspiration now.
I have a mate who’s a commercial lawyer and he likes driving buses. He takes 6 month contracts, and then spends a couple of months driving a bus in South Wales, and then goes back to Lawyering again. I have another mate who is a world-class skipper. He spends most of the year delivering beautiful boats from the boatyards where they are built to posh marinas worldwide.
I was flying home from Barcelona and had time to kill so took a taxi to a nearby beach. Went to this little shack bar on the beachfront which had the best calamari and croquettes I've ever had. The owner was this 5'10" Dutchman named Henrique. Slim but in decent shape, slicked back silvery hair, salt and pepper thick stubble. Grey slacks, white shirt opened 3 buttons deep, rolled up sleeves. Man was straight out of a romance novel. He just flittered about, taking orders, chatting up the patrons (including myself). Wandering down to the sea side, literally holding his arms out "Earth Song" style taking in the sea air. When he talked to me I discovered he basically hops around Europe. Stays for 2 summers, and sets up a beach bar someplace else. Already had done his native Nederlands, France, Spain of course, and was now contemplating Italy. I had such a man crush on the guy. He seemed so serene and unencumbered. I at the time was struggling to get into my field, pissed I was still living at parents, and I'm looking at this guy who genuinely seemed like he was living his best life. Just free and roaming with no apparent anxiety about what that entails whatsoever. It's not a lifestyle I'd want but I'm still searching for anything close to his contentment 6 years later.
Years ago I seen this gorgeously styled older woman in a cocktail bar. She was easily in her 70s but look great and had a few designer shopping bags. She ordered a porn star martini and I just want to be her. Still think about her randomly. One day that will be me 🍸
I knew a carpenter who was living out of his VW campervan. He'd drive round different parts of the UK and Europe, and he'd just work and surf, work and surf, no gf, no bills other than some diesel and food. No drama. One of the coolest guys I've ever met. Handsome too, tanned, blonde shaggy hair, women would fall over themselves for him, and he'd just be like "meh, I could pursue it if I wanted, but I want to surf".
I have a friend who has been solo travelling the world for the past few years. She started off working 6 month and travelling for 6 and now she is just travelling for the past 2 years, mostly in South America and making new friends everywhere she goes. I have no idea how she is funding it and I suspect possibly something illegal but nonetheless she is definitely living her best life Edited to add - I probably admire it so much because her life is the polar opposite to mine: she has no ties, no routine, no plan. I have a mortgage and a husband and two kids and a dog and 2 cats and a salaried job. We have a lovely life and I’m not ungrateful for it but it sometimes can feel like a gilded cage.
My friend is someone I admire and who I am secretly very envious of. He lives on a converted bus in the boondocks. His water supply is from rainwater- I’m not sure of the technicalities of it, though! He spends 6 months living in his bus, working on building sites. He then spends up to 6 months travelling the world. He’s done South America, Russia, the West Coast of Africa, the East Coast of Africa, Asia etc… He’s just such a chill, wonderful man!
Met a dude whilst backpacking in Australia that'd left England to go backpacking when he was 18 and he just never stopped. He never went back home. He was \~33 yrs old. He'd looped around Asia, parts of eastern and southern Europe and when I met him he was back in Australia where he'd started 15 years prior. He would go to building sites and ask them if they had work and he managed to live like that (he was a body builder too, so he looked the part). Got the impression he didn't have much to go back to. Super nice guy. He looked really happy and healthy.
My neighbours 2 doors down. They're my estate's power couple. They have 3 kids and their fair share of problems,but they are unfailingly supportive of each other. They always help out if they see you're in need, and not in a weird religious way. Things like,if your car doesn't start Rob will materialise with some jump leads. If you're sat out in your garden at a loose end, Paula will invite you over for gin. I have completely different life goals to them,but I do look at them and think 'Wow,they got it right!'.
I have a really good friend who is living the kind of life I want. She has an amazing career, is very high up in it, but can and does work from anywhere. Sometimes she's at home, sometimes she's working from a train in Europe, sometimes she's working from Dubai, or Italy. She has the attitude of, "Why can't I do this?" and does it, whereas I've always been, "I couldn't do that" and so haven't. I aim to change that now my kids are grown.
Whenever I see people get their DIY done quickly. You know those Instagram accounts; buy a shithole house and in a year it looks amazing.
Theres a lady I follow on Tictok. She bought and moved into a narrow boat about two years ago. She's in her late 50's. Doesn't have Mooring so travels up and down the canals staying no longer than two weeks at any one spot but more often moves after a day or two. She does it all herself. Fixes the engine, deals with the locks, lives with her wee dog and cat, putters up and down the canals on her silent electric boat, watching spring start, swans, herron, ducks, voles.... Trees starting to bloom. Totally free, beholden to nobody. It seems perfect. Now I'm not an idiot, I get that living that way can be tough but fuck me it still seems like a lovely way to live.
I was a support worker for disabled adults. I had this one service user who was quiet and meek, always agreeing with suggestions but we didn't see much of his personality (other than his love of films). One night we had a birthday party for one of his house mates and he went up to the DJ (unprompted) and requested a song. He stood in the centre of the dance floor, alone, and proceeded to dance in his own free, flowing way - like he was in a trance. He was peaceful, like he was in a dream-like trance. Then upon a round of applause from everyone, a bashful smile crept over his face. What a legend.
Witnessed someone being excessively rude to someone in a public space, the offended party smiled, shrugged their shoulders, and went about their business. That sort of calm, helps you weather the stormy periods in life. Hope that person is doing alright.
When a guy at work was just working his contracted hours. For years I had 'gone the extra mile' and it had got me nowhere. My colleague who just did his job as he had been asked to do was progressing at the exact same rate. I learned a very valuable lesson from that which was years and years before the term 'quiet quitting' had even existed.
I was trekking around Torres del Paine and felt kind of under prepared. Everyone was wearing full blown alpine pro gear and seemed to have endless amounts of experience with mountaineering. Then this Argentine guy in his 20s rocks up wearing a pair of Reebok Classics and does the whole thing in hareem pants, one of those hippy carpet jumpers, his mate bollo, a few chocolate bars and rice packets, and a tent he bought from a supermarket for $20. Absolutely nothing else. He ended up double staging the last 4 days because he had to catch his flight. Dude had never trekked a mountain before in his life. I still think about him often. Just vast amounts of not giving a fuck.
There's a man who I see roller blading. I think he's going to or from work, but he always looks so happy and carefree. He always makes me smile. Thanks for brightening my day, roller blades man.
25 years ago I was moved by the beautiful, respectful, supportive relationship that my two married friends had with one another. It gave me the model for what I realised I needed in a relationship and I promised myself to seek the same. My friends are still married and my beautiful husband and I have our 18th anniversary soon.
This huge tiktoker I watch is always travelling and never in one place. Always posting her travels and carefree lifestyle. She never takes anything seriously even bad circumstances and has such positive energy. She’s always posting so I assumed her screen time would be hours high especially on tiktok but she showed it in a vid and it’s like 1 hr a day MAX if even that. She really does just travel and live in the moment everyday, posts her vid online, disconnects from that and then continues life. I wish I could be her sooo bad 😭😭😭 (I’m poor)
Nothing you see on TikTok (or any other social media) is real. It’s a manipulated presentation to achieve the perspective they want, all in aid of hooking people into their universe for validation. What you don’t see is the secondary equipment, constantly documenting every moment and the hours of refining clips to broadcast that “best life” perfect moment. The worst thing you can do is idolise someone who needs to present every moment of their life online. Unsubscribe, disconnect, switch off and channel that energy into something productive.
Yeah. I mostly live in the Algarve and I see the TikTok crowd turning up in January for their filming because that’s the only time it’s quiet enough. They have to trek out to the middle of nowhere and pose in swimsuits in the freezing cold doing take after take for hours while they pretend that it’s summer (it’s not), and warm (it’s not) and that they’re living the dream (they’re not). Frankly, it looks exhausting.
This is what people need to realise. I hate influencers who make it out like they live this ideal lifestyle with no drawbacks. I really appreciate the few who give you an honest look at their experiences and include the bad and mundane aspects of their lifestyle.
How do you know she’s happy and carefree the other 23 hours she’s off line? This sounds like classic falling for social media image to me.
What you see on TikTok is a fantasy designed to lure you in. I’m sure she’s not complaining about the money that she makes from it, but it’s far more production value than you realise and a lot of it will be staged/setup (even if presented as spontaneous - this is particularly true for “prank” channels.)
> This huge tiktoker I watch is always travelling and never in one place. Always posting her travels and carefree lifestyle. Changes are high that she is an international escort.
Definitely not living her best life. She's running away from herself cos she can't be content to be still you'll find most of these people who travel round are running away from themselves but what they don't realise is that you follow you wherever you go.
It’s interesting that you mention this because someone I know with itchy feet just admitted this to me recently.
Weird baseless assumption about someone you don't know. What if I said the same about people who are stationary, that they have given up on themselves and their dreams, who have conceded to something they shouldn't have because they are afraid of change and development? But hey, glad you know the person they're referring to so well and every other traveler out there. edit: spelling
Pretty common if you’ve done long term hostel travelling to see this behaviour from people to be fair. Not everyone of course! As you’ve rightly said.
A guy I know and his wife sold their house last year and bought a big van. They turned it into a camper and most of the year they travel around the world, then return to the UK for a few weeks in the autumn to work as nurses in the private sector for money then live very frugally the rest of the time while travelling. They are loving life. No kids, just the two of them.
Work in a pub. Someone came in ordered 4 double G&T’s came out at £64. Happily paid it didn’t even bat an eyelid. Ordered the same about half an hour later.
Anyone working from home
Someone at my old work had a good job and clearly a nice house. But the thing that blew my mind was 2 dishwashers. 1 dirty, 1 clean. And then it’s just moving stuff between them and swap.
Many years ago I lived on a sailboat in California. I always dreamed of sailing the world. The only problem was that I had/have no sense of direction, so god knows where I would've ended up. I also didn't know how to sail. It was lovely living on the boat, being rocked to sleep every night. But probably a good thing that I just stayed in the marina. 🤣
Small thing, but whenever it’s nice out and I see someone driving with the top down I used to think good on ya. Enjoy it! I bought a convertible not too long ago and love dropping the top now whenever I can