Is there no one else from West-by-God Virginia here?!

You say that like it’s a BAD thing. :)

I’ve traveled from Pittsburgh to LA (and Pittsburgh to Denver) on Amtrak, and it was AWESOME. Note that we got a sleeper car, which meant that our meals were included—we’d have to have gotten hotel rooms if we drove, and on the train 1) I could completely stretch out and 2) we could BOTH watch the scenery (or nap…

First, I’m glad you are mostly recovered but sorry you had to go through all that struggle.

I take small bites, then tell my husband, “EW. Do you want this or do you want me to throw it away?”

I donate those types of things—we have a very good local charity so I don’t mind getting rid of something when I know someone else probably desperately needs the thing I’m not using.

I am a voracious reader as well, and I see audio books as supplementing my reading.

My Dad did this when I was little, when dishwashers were kinda a new thing.

No, really, I don’t like the heat and I’ve considered moving further north where it’s colder. :) I’ve been to SoCal, and it was a nice place to visit, but I like few places as well as I love home.

Beside, I don’t think I’d enjoy things like this as much if it wasn’t season:

Thank you, but I love the cold and snow more than I love having year round fresh berries. (Yes, I know, I’m weird.)

Heh—whatever I can afford at the time from the Farmers’ Market. :) Blueberries are usually available for only a couple weeks.

Just to be clear, I quite like my current fridge/freezer. I have it organized so I can find and reach stuff, and shove those cookie sheets in when necessary (the major problem is when it’s berry season and I want to freeze multiple sheets of berries at one time; a problem I am happy to have mind you.).

Also consider things you “sometimes” do or use. FREX, I often freeze fruits, veggies, and cookie dough on a cookie sheet in the freezer before putting it into bags. A normal sized cookie sheet wouldn’t fit in a side-by-side, and I think it would be problematic in the bottom freezer models family members have.

I actually have a folder on my kindle labelled Z-DNF. (I also have Z-MEH and Z-TERRIBLE.)

I love my inexpensive bike bell. It lets people know I’m coming up behind them AND I ding it at kids we pass to say hi.

Not really. He doesn’t live on credit. He has no debt besides his mortgage. He has plenty of savings and investments. His retirement account is much larger than mine (because he makes more!). He has a college savings account for my niece started when she was born.

Well, since I love my brother—even though we are very different—that makes a good example. I may not truly understand his choices, but I know he’s a good person, so I can’t say they are wrong—just wrong for me. And my choices would be wrong for him.

Good luck to you both! It’s a terrifying proposition, but not being sick and filled with dread is such an AMAZING feeling! :)

For the naysayers, it’s not just about being good with money.