Your Perfect Life

[billisonboard]

What have you done in an effort to create for yourself a perfect world around you? I'm not talking world peace or big stuff like that. I am talking little tiny things. For example: I relax playing soduko on my tablet. The app I use periodically has these "events" in which you work through a set of games and win a trophy. Silly but I enjoy them. Except the last couple have had expert level puzzles to solve which previously wasn't the case. I have neither the skill nor motivation to gain the skill to solve that level of puzzle. So I wrote and nicely asked them to consider not including them in the future. Got back a pleasant response about "randomly generated blah blah blah". I complained in the past to these people about an update that made the game layout more difficult to play. Got a similar response but a few days later the layout was different/better. I am hoping that as I play the next event, there won't be an expert puzzle.

I jokingly refer to such efforts to shape my world as creating a Billtopia. Another simple example is that my morning coffee cup was specifically selected because it fits into my hand the exact way I wish to hold a cup.

So what little things have you done to create your ...topia?

Please realize in a Billtopia, I come up with interesting thread topics that get people posting.

[happyhoix]

When I remodeled the master bath I made it a Happyspot. No tub, just a big shower with rainfall shower head and bench seat. The decor is old New Orleans and completely different from the craftsman style of the rest of the house. I have a stash of magazines in it. Yes, a bathroom is my quiet zen spot.

I also have a favorite coffee cup that perfectly fits my hand, contains just the right amount, is hand thrown and glazed the perfect green (like weathered bronze).

And sometimes I take the long way home, on side roads over the top of the mountain, and cut through the perfect littleused back road that winds around a thickly wooded ravine where trees dense with leaves entwine their branches overhead, making a verdant natural cathedral over the road. (Bonus points, since it’s on the mountain it’s always 5 degrees cooler in the hot summers, plus another few degrees cooler under the canopy, so you can open the car windows and breathe fresh air that doesn’t seem to be from a sauna).

[NoNamePerson]

Dec 31, 2022 11:47:33 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

When I remodeled the master bath I made it a Happyspot. No tub, just a big shower with rainfall shower head and bench seat. The decor is old New Orleans and completely different from the craftsman style of the rest of the house. I have a stash of magazines in it. Yes, a bathroom is my quiet zen spot.

I also have a favorite coffee cup that perfectly fits my hand, contains just the right amount, is hand thrown and glazed the perfect green (like weathered bronze).

And sometimes I take the long way home, on side roads over the top of the mountain, and cut through the perfect littleused back road that winds around a thickly wooded ravine where trees dense with leaves entwine their branches overhead, making a verdant natural cathedral over the road. (Bonus points, since it’s on the mountain it’s always 5 degrees cooler in the hot summers, plus another few degrees cooler under the canopy, so you can open the car windows and breathe fresh air that doesn’t seem to be from a sauna).

I had to laugh at this since I too do this quite frequently. I call it my "oh Sh## I'm lost" trips. But I have stumbled onto some of the most interesting things, sites and just pure glorious mother nature so I count these trips as a big PLUS in my perfect world. I've actually looked up and seen "weigh scales ahead" meaning I am leaving the state     The county I live in is on the state line so not like I drive to very far to accomplish this. I just don't know how I got there!!

But all in all it falls into the forming of perfect world for me. I'll list some other things later when I don't have to hurry.  Good thread billisonboard  Thought provoking. So many things in my old age!!

[billisonboard]

Here is another one for me. I have a split king sized Sleep Number bed so not only do I set a firmness, I get to sleep on the flannel sheets I prefer.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

My husband has a Breville toaster for his utopia. 

[billisonboard]

Jan 1, 2023 12:41:41 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

My husband has a Breville toaster for his utopia. 

A toaster? Had to look it up. And Sweet! Those top models look ...topian-worthy. I see they do come in red (keeping the wife happy helps me maintain my ...topia). Will have to consider adding one to my wish list. Thanks.

[Empire the P.A.]

Jan 1, 2023 12:41:41 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

My husband has a Breville toaster for his utopia. 

I got the Breville oven too! I love it, I bake constantly in it instead of the full sized oven. 

[daisylu]

Jan 1, 2023 12:41:41 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

My husband has a Breville toaster for his utopia. 

We ordered a Breville for our office at work last year. It is the oven/ microwave/ air fryer and about a dozen other things. That thing is awesome! I would consider getting one when our current microwave gives out. They are pretty pricey though.

[Artemis Windsong]

I also have a coffee cup that is just right. One in my summer home has a Santa on it. The one in winter home was given to me when one of my friends was cleaning out her rental for a long term leave. I have 5 or 6 so I won't run out. H. also has his special coffee cup but it's smaller than mine.

Winter home. My sleep utopia is a 3 inch foam mattress topper. Sheets I bought in a bed set where I use just the bottom sheet topped with a fleece blanked and a light weight quilt. The sheet has a pattern on it and quick dries. I don't keep a stack of bedding. Just the one set. I wash and return to the bed.

Summer home also has a foam topper and black fake satin sheets. The fleece sheet I use for about 1 month in the spring gets too hot for summer. I mourn the fleece zebra strip top sheet that went missing on a trip a couple of years ago. Not replaceable.

PJs are also a utopia thing. If they aren't correct, sleep quality suffers.

I have a back pack that my cousin gave me in 2003. I pack overnight stuff in it. Another bag simply does not work.

I'm a little purse person. I like a small cross body that will hold my cell phone, a small wallet with credit cards (calling card size) and a little cash in it. I have a new one on order. Right now I repurposed a waist belt water bottle holder to a small purse. In the past I used a bike belt then realized how goofy that looked. I moved away from waist packs for the cross body.

A must is a 12-cup coffee maker with automatic shut off. A special folding camp chair to sit outside. I have a pillow and beach towel I sit on. The beach towel is in case I get cold and the pillow is to lift the seat slightly that has sagged.

[Spellbound454]

I like to do a Suduko too, and a cryptic crossword.... but they have got to be hard then there is get a sense of achievement if some of the answers are right.

Im a bit OCD and love cleaning and sorting things out into their correct places...... great sense of relief and a good stress buster.

Towels, sheets, underwear are all white...... and they have to be soft, fluffy and very clean (thats my happy place)

[billisonboard]

Jan 2, 2023 8:31:24 GMT -5 Spellbound454 said:

I like to do a Suduko too, and a cryptic crossword.... but they have got to be hard then there is get a sense of achievement if some of the answers are right.

Im a bit OCD and love cleaning and sorting things out into their correct places...... great sense of relief and a good stress buster.

Towels, sheets, underwear are all white...... and they have to be soft, fluffy and very clean (thats my happy place)

I get my sense of accomplishment less from the difficulty of one puzzle and more from things like doing the daily challenge each day of a month and now for the entire year. Or the events like talk about in the OP. Doing the 16 or 30 games for the reward does it for me also.

My OCD on display: A couple of my solitaire games give a crown for each day. If you do it on its day, the crown has jewels. If you miss a day and do it late, no jewels. It will bug me every day of a month when I have missed a day and have to see that jewel-less crown. Glad when the month ends and don't have to look at it.

[billisonboard]

 want to up the challenge here 

What do you do to get others to assist you in creating your ...topia? In the OP I tell of writing to the game producers to get them to give me the product that would make me happy. I word it as "if there is a discussion, please include me on the side voting for ...". Another example was when I wrote to Sirius about the deejays on their smooth jazz station. Again it was "if there is a discussion, please include me on the side of less talk, more music." That one I certainly didn't get my way so just change the station when they start talking about the artist or their own personal lives.

I operate on the principle that you need to ask the world for what will make you happy. Once asked, you have to accept its response and react in a way that will make you happy. My soduko game, I will start the next couple of events. If I keep hitting an expert game after a couple more go's, I will stop doing them, secure in the knowledge I tried to get what I wanted. 

[Artemis Windsong]

I really like how you phrase "if there is a discussion please include me on the side voting for".

I have a neighbor that has a pleasant way of saying things. I was raised in a more gruff speaking manner so I am attempting to change this.

[TheOtherMe]

I sent an email last night to Marquette University because they would not let me use the elevator to get to the lower level seats at the basketball game I attended.  I have problems with stairs because of depth perception.  These were also very wobbly and the rail was equally wobbly.

I have yet to have any other university tell me I can't use the elevator to get to the floor.  

Will be interesting to see what they have to say.

[billisonboard]

Jan 2, 2023 10:30:19 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

I really like how you phrase "if there is a discussion please include me on the side voting for".

I have a neighbor that has a pleasant way of saying things. I was raised in a more gruff speaking manner so I am attempting to change this.

I used to have to deal with complaints at the facility I ran. I remember getting a letter in which one of a number of issues was that the french toast on the buffet line wasn't done enough. I agreed. In fact I thought the same way previously so had actually asked other people, "How is the french toast?" (I am a firm believer in open ended questions.) Younger kids, teens, adults all gave positive responses - not one "not cooked enough". So I had discussed with the kitchen staff my issue and that they should carry on but on mornings I had breakfast, I would ask for "Bill done" toast. I told all this to the complainer and told her she was more than welcome to do the same, that the cooks would be happy to meet her desire.

I have been blessed with a lot of similar opportunities to see multiple sides of issues and have worked to learn from them. The wording above is a direct result.

[daisylu]

I am one who has no issue asking companies or businesses for better service, product, etc. Now it is often through email or surveys, back in the day it would be a telephone call (which ended up becoming way too time consuming). If I do not get the desired results I move on - whether it be from a business, manufacturer, or another entity, as I am sure there are others who will appreciate my $.

[billisonboard]

Jan 2, 2023 11:32:19 GMT -5 daisylu said:

I am one who has no issue asking companies or businesses for better service, product, etc. Now it is often through email or surveys, back in the day it would be a telephone call (which ended up becoming way too time consuming). If I do not get the desired results I move on - whether it be from a business, manufacturer, or another entity, as I am sure there are others who will appreciate my $.

Okay. So i am going to ask for a "better" response. Give us a fun example.

[daisylu]

Jan 2, 2023 11:44:21 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Jan 2, 2023 11:32:19 GMT -5 daisylu said:

I am one who has no issue asking companies or businesses for better service, product, etc. Now it is often through email or surveys, back in the day it would be a telephone call (which ended up becoming way too time consuming). If I do not get the desired results I move on - whether it be from a business, manufacturer, or another entity, as I am sure there are others who will appreciate my $.

Okay. So i am going to ask for a "better" response. Give us a fun example.

Not exactly fun, but most recently was Direct TV. I have had their service since they bought Primestar, I think around 2000. Years ago, I wanted to move from a standard box to a DVR (back when they first came out), which were being offered to new customers for free. A short phone call, where I did end up asking for a manager, got results. I would pay up front for the box, but was credited on my bill for so many bills until it was paid off and received a year of HBO for free too.

Flash forward to November 2022, when my receiver started having issues pulling local channels. I called and the rep had no idea other than sending out a serviceman because my receiver was "old". We are about to have a new roof installed, but I was assured that they wouldn't need to mess with the dish. Well, they did. After looking at the dish serviceman informed me that he would have to replace the dish as well, and that the newer dishes have more issues with leaves than the old. We live in the country, and no way we could take down trees to accommodate this. I decided to reschedule after the roof install, and have had issues ever since. I am pretty sure that he started to remove the dish and stopped and in the process moved it. Customer service was zero help unless I want to pay a service fee. Nope, their guy messed it up. So, even though we can only get satellite or cell internet at the house we cut ties with Direct TV and went to streaming. Id rather deal with buffering than to spend $ on a company that does not value me. They tried to offer a bunch of stuff then, but too little too late for me. You should have to tried harder to work with me BEFORE I called to cancel.

I believe in giving people chances to correct issues, but if they choose not to than I have no issue cutting my losses.

[Artemis Windsong]

Our cable TV service increased 30% with no warning. Good bye. Everything went back.

[Tiny]

I like to cook. I am not very good at it and probably never will be. And that's ok. I find it relaxing to make breakfasts or lunches or dinners for the week (I live alone).

I've slowly replaced/added cooking utensils that make "cooking" just a little bit easier - a couple of sharp knives I can (and do) sharpen. A fancy in expensive magnetic holder for the "good knives" that I attached to a cabinet so I don't have to put the sharp knives in a drawer. I slowly got rid of a dozen "handme down" knives that were poorly balanced and duller than an edgeless rock. I also got better cutting boards to better support my "sharp" knives (no more glass or stone or marble cutting boards).

I have replaced most of the 'handme down" pots and pans - that had hot spots or warped in the oven.

Getting a ThermoPop thermometer was also "life changing" I spent years and years unable to determine if "meat" was done.... (FYI I think they are on sale for 1/2 off).

I bought a silicone mat for my counter (because I just can't bring myself to roll out dough on the counter) and it's got a bunch of measurements on it so I can roll out a circle of dough to the right size. My gosh... it was a game changer... I made an old family recipe cookie and I finally got some consistency in the size of the final cookies (due to having that template on the silicone mat). It also removed all the stress and anxiety I had in my head when having to roll out dough on the counter. Yes, I need "training wheels" and probably always will - I haven't figured out how to make the "correct" size circle of rolled out dough in 50 years on my own by "feel and sight" - I doubt I'm going to master this skill anytime soon.

Yes, there's something "not quite right" in my head... I can't quickly pick up a "habit" or a "skill" and then do it flawlessly everytime after. And that's ok.

In Tinytopia most of my "well that's not right" attempts are OK and I call it "rustic". But finally getting some basic tools that help me do stuff without so much stress/anxiety has been a game changer for me.

I have a whole new respect for my mom - who used all those crappy cooking utensils I inherited and never burned anything or never under cooked something.

FWIW:  I don't buy new gadgets or "trendy stuff" -  I don't have the space or the capacity to learn to use it or the time to change around all of my "menus" and favorite foods to accommodate the new appliance.    I'm am glad that relatives/friends have stopped cajoling me into buying stuff or giving me stuff - that I might use once or twice and then have to figure out how to get rid of it.     I DO like to hear their experiences with the "new" appliance and what they are cooking with it.    

[Happy prose]

Count me in as also having the perfect coffee mug. Recent things I've added to create my utopia- my down blanket, my robo vacuum, and an outdoor chair with its own hassock, so I can put my feet up. I'm sure I'll think of more. Great thread idea!

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 2, 2023 10:53:31 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I sent an email last night to Marquette University because they would not let me use the elevator to get to the lower level seats at the basketball game I attended.  I have problems with stairs because of depth perception.  These were also very wobbly and the rail was equally wobbly.

I have yet to have any other university tell me I can't use the elevator to get to the floor.  

Will be interesting to see what they have to say.

They sent an email asking if they could call me, so now I wait.  

My depth perception problem goes back to grad school days, so it is not because of aging.  It's gotten worse but it isn't new.

[TheOtherMe]

Talked to Creighton's Athletic Department today.  They offered me a free ticket to a game and will make sure I am treated better.  I'm not sure I want to drive to Milwaukee to see two teams play that I don't care about.

This game was handled totally differently because all of their student workers had left for Christmas break.  That's why I didn't have to sign for my ticket and there were no ticket takers.  However, someone should have accompanied me on the elevator.  

Their designated handicapped seating is at the top of the lower level.  I told him that I not where I sit at a game I care about.  The opponent seating is usually behind the bench and that is where I want to sit.  He asked if I could do any steps at all.  I told him I went down 3 rows to the floor to talk to the coaches just fine.  

It's the gyms with the wobbly bleachers and wobbly hand rails that are major problems.  

At CU, we don't have bleachers like that.  The floor is cement and the hand rails are in to cement.  It's not wobbly.  They have accessible seating both on the floor and at the top of the other seats.  They didn't have the floor seating until complaints were made.

[Happy prose]

About 4 yrs ago, I emailed Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. Any time I was traveling, and there was a Margaritaville, I would by a t-shirt with their logo and name of the city/place, such as Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Key West. On a Norwegian cruise, they had a Margaritaville at Sea, but didn't sell shirts. I emailed to ask if there was anywhere to purchase, and the answer was no, they were not made. A few weeks later, I got another email saying it was my lucky day- they found a sample print they made, and sent me the t-shirt for free. Now of course I can't wear or wash it because it's special!!

[billisonboard]

Jan 3, 2023 21:16:34 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

About 4 yrs ago, I emailed Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. Any time I was traveling, and there was a Margaritaville, I would by a t-shirt with their logo and name of the city/place, such as Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Key West. On a Norwegian cruise, they had a Margaritaville at Sea, but didn't sell shirts. I emailed to ask if there was anywhere to purchase, and the answer was no, they were not made. A few weeks later, I got another email saying it was my lucky day- they found a sample print they made, and sent me the t-shirt for free. Now of course I can't wear or wash it because it's special!!

That is one of the coolest stories I have heard.

[azucena]

I spent some time this winter using my label maker to turn more of my house into azucenaland. Enjoyed every second of organizing, decluttering printing labels. It's starting to help dh and the kids stop asking where are the batteries, etc because they know I'll just say go read the drawer labels. Also does seem to mean they are putting more stuff away where it goes.

Dh got an orange plastic water bottle with straw. It's too girly for him so I snagged it. Realizing more and more that orange makes me happy so I'm incorporating it into curtains, pillows, etc in my house and now this water bottle at work. Plus I've discovered that it's diamond pattern ridges are sensory soothing for my stress and anxiety.

[toomuchreality]

Jan 2, 2023 10:24:11 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

 want to up the challenge here 

What do you do to get others to assist you in creating your ...topia? In the OP I tell of writing to the game producers to get them to give me the product that would make me happy. I word it as "if there is a discussion, please include me on the side voting for ...". Another example was when I wrote to Sirius about the deejays on their smooth jazz station. Again it was "if there is a discussion, please include me on the side of less talk, more music." That one I certainly didn't get my way so just change the station when they start talking about the artist or their own personal lives.

I operate on the principle that you need to ask the world for what will make you happy. Once asked, you have to accept its response and react in a way that will make you happy. My soduko game, I will start the next couple of events. If I keep hitting an expert game after a couple more go's, I will stop doing them, secure in the knowledge I tried to get what I wanted. 

The apps/games that I play, when they reached the point that I was no longer doing them very often, because of the difficulty level, I wrote and asked if there was a way that I could start over? I was surprised when they wrote back and said, yes! As long as my play/account wasn't currently connected to FB (or other such site), I could simply delete the game, then reinstall it. I tried it and it worked! Bonus points: I didn't lose the ad free play, that I had paid extra for! Woo-Hoo! I have since done this on other games, with the same results. - Drawback, is the beginning levels are too easy. But they go quickly, for the very same reason.
Some word games have been good because my DGD who was learning to recognize the alphabet, could play with me. She held my phone and I told her what letter to go to next. I didn't tell her which one was that letter. She had to figure that out herself. It gave us time to "play" together, that was also helping her learn. She just didn't know it. We also had a game with numbers, we played the same way. I enjoy times like that.
Sometimes, she invites me to have a sleepover with her (4yrs old) and I do, because although I can barely move/get up off the floor etc, in the morning, The number of invites I get in the future, is limited, I think. I'm taking advantage of the time I have left, that she actually wants to spend time with me. 🥰

[TheOtherMe]

That is the very reason I make the effort to go to Toronto to see the Toddler.  The time will come when he just wants to be in his room or doing something that doesn't involve me.  

Have to take advantage of it while he is young.  

I wish his grandparents understood that.

[toomuchreality]

Jan 15, 2023 15:48:52 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

That is the very reason I make the effort to go to Toronto to see the Toddler.  The time will come when he just wants to be in his room or doing something that doesn't involve me.  

Have to take advantage of it while he is young.  

I wish his grandparents understood that.

They're missing out.

[TheOtherMe]

Just got done talking to him.  They must be talking about family at his pre-K.  He said I have family.  His dad asked who and he said himself, mommy, daddy and Aunt me.  

They are missing so much and they are doing nothing about it.  

He is so funny.  His imagination is running wild.  He doesn't like to blow me kisses any more.  So today he "stole my mouth" and took out his mouth and said no kisses.  So no kisses.