After many years of toil, my wife and I have finally reached what we would call a “wealthy” stage. And we agree that hands-down the biggest benefit is being able to easily afford to fly business class. We rather often take long trips (she’s from China, and we live in Virginia), and those 18-hour flights were murder in…

Just email proposals to a bunch of people you like, and see who accepts. One at a time, of course, unless you have a very strong stomach for conflict or there are some that you know are just pure fantasy (I had a lot of those...). Worked for me, and I’ve now been married to one of them for 20 years. And, I think I…

What app doesn’t warn you that you have unsaved work when you try to quit?! As for web browsers, I have mine set to resume where I left off.

There is absolutely.no.way. that any house wiring has to be replaced!!! Wire is wire, and besides, LEDs draw a small fraction of the current used by incandescents. Dimmer, maybe/probably. Wiring, I (an electrical engineer, BTW) deeply and thoroughly scorn the idea. I don’t know where anyone came up with an estimate of…

I barely deign to “clean” my kitchen (my sanctuary, the love of my life) for invited guests, and I’m sure as hell not going to disrupt my “organization” for people who drop by.

Hawai‘i is seductive, but beware! After visiting a few times, I quit my good Mainland job and moved to O‘ahu (with the excuse being that I was going to grad school at UH Mānoa). I stayed for seven years, which was two or three years too long, before getting bored and moving back to the Mainland (sans that good…

I probably don’t have to say this to savvy Lifehacker readers, but no matter how much you enjoy your visit(s) to Hawai‘i, 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 under any circumstances whatsoever buy into a timeshare there!! Do not even go near a timeshare presentation no matter what “free” goodies you’re offered to “just listen” (and believe…

When the Kilauea volcano calms down again and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is fully reopened, go there! Drive around the Crater Rim Road, and stop at all of the sights along the way. Splurge on a good, long helicopter ride over the active areas (assuming that it’s ever permitted again). It has been spectacular…

Don’t go to Hawai‘i without going to Kauai, and don’t go to Kauai without taking a Nā Pali Coast Zodiak (boat) tour. It will suck up lots of time and money to do it, and it’s worth every single millisecond and penny. There are various companies that offer the tours—shop around. Be sure to take something that can shoot…

Maui: Drive to the top of Haleakalā. Don’t argue that it’s too far, just 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁! But don’t get tricked into signing up for the sunrise bike ride down the mountain. It’s friggin’ cold up there in the best of times, and to do the bike ride you have to be encased in a space suit that will keep you from experiencing…

If you don’t believe me about how great that trail is, check this out: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kalalau-trail-kauai_us_57294fade4b096e9f08fad37

Oʻahu: visit the Bishop Museum (“the Hawaiʻi State Museum of Natural and Cultural History”). And as someone else mentioned, check out Costco for high-quality local stuff at good prices. Foster Botanical Garden is pleasant.

On Oʻahu, spend an afternoon and evening at the Polynesian Cultural Center (“PCC”, to the locals). Super touristy, but oh-so-much fun. Plan to watch the “Hā: Breath of Life” evening show, but you won’t miss much if you skip the Aliʻi Luau Buffet (though, it’s included in a couple of packages that you might want to…

It would be a travesty to go all the way to Hawaii and not hike the first two-mile section (starting from Haʻena State Park) of the Kalalau Trail on Kauai, as far as Hanakapiʻai Beach. If the trail is dry, that easy but stunning hike will give you the best bang-for-your-buck hiking experience on Planet Earth. And if…

Also, landslides are not uncommon along that road, and you can get stuck for hours waiting for one to be cleared. I used to live in Honolulu, and visited the Neighbor Islands (”Outer Islands”, if you’re an Oahu native) pretty frequently taking visitors. On one of our trips out the Road to Hana, we got stuck going out…

It’s not couples that’s the problem, it’s their having kids. I’ve been (happily) married a long, long time, but we chose to never have kids and have watched our friends (single & married) fall away as they’ve had kids and wanted friends with whom they could share the experience. Doesn’t make us regret our decision,…

• Montreal Chicken Seasoning — Even better than their steak seasoning (which I don’t actually like much). When we visit my wife’s family in China, they demand that we bring as much of this stuff as we can carry. Costco usually has it.

“Add a cup of bleach and let it sit for an hour.”

Why did I click on this article when I was about to prepare dinner.........

You say you left your iPad at my house? Prove it!