Fifty Plus (50+) - Simple pleasures...

Of course, riding a bike is a classic simple pleasure. It's so good, it's one of the reasons we're all here, day after day, talking about it. There are other simple pleasures that I love, such as...

...that first cup of coffee in the morning

...using a towel that's still warm from the dryer

...taking a long hot soak in the tub with a new copy of Newsweek to read

...spending an hour or two with my camera, with no particular objective other than to take pictures

...having a (rare) long into the night discussion on the state of the world with either of my daughters

...getting an email from my 80+ parents, with the latest gossip about their corner of the world

...reading one of the wonderful posts on BF 50+, like milestones, requests for help that get answered, new information about this bike or that, photos of bikes and rides and gardens, humor, etc.

...settling down with a well-written novel

...cooking something simple but tasty

What are some of yours?

Uhmmmm...I do not know if I can mention it here on bike forums.:D

Picking up a guitar.
Finding a gem of a CD and playing it for the first time.
Enjoying a nice thrown together meal and the way a glass of wine makes it better

And, for sure, right now, seeing the sparkle and boundless zest for life that our little Roxie has.

I like going on a road trip with Lovey.

I like playing with the dogs - a lot.

I like it when we are at a dog trial and our dogs win stuff.

I like it when one of my dogs "gets" what they are about.

I like starting to shift up at the top of a climb, long or short, doesn't matter, when you start shifting up, it's sweet.

I like getting dressed to go ride.

I really like taking a shower to wash the sweat off.

I like the sound of little asphalt bubbles popping when I roll over them. For some reason, that really makes me remember being a kid and riding my bike in the summertime.

I like watching clouds blow across a full moon on a cold night when we are out with the dogs.

I like dry feet when it's wet out. Gore Tex is one of the greatest inventions of modern man.

I could go on, but it's someone else's turn now.

The smell of the moist earth after a thunderstorm passes...
Quietly enjoying a crackling fire with someone special on a winter's night...
Taking in a panoramic mountaintop view after bagging a peak...

-Lunch with my daughter
-Getting up early and then remembering it's Saturday

Sitting by the ocean
Feeding my Koi
Playing 'Georgia on my Mind' on the piano

The sound of rain falling.

The sight of snow falling.

The sound of children giggling and squealing (is there a happier sound?).

Eating out.

A road trip to a new destination.

The sound of waves at the beach.

The wind in my face while on my bike.

Warm cookies fresh from the oven.

The smell of homemade bread as it is baking.

The taste of homemade bread with butter!

Fitting into all my smaller clothes again.

Forgot one... sitting here with my cup of coffee in the morning, with no particular place to go.

Simple pleasure in anticipation: enjoying my grandchild (if all goes well, in about 6 months).

Picking up a guitar.


+1 - beat me to it

also,

falling into the pool on a hot day

Years ago when I used to SCUBA dive, nothing tasted as good as a cold beer after a dive.

Great thread idea Deeg. I notice most of these pleasures listed above don't really have a big financial cost. Here are some of mine:

Having dinner with friends

Watching old movies

Eating corn fresh from the garden

Donating blood

A long bike ride--followed by a nap on the couch

The magic light of early morning and late afternoon

Watching the antics of my two cats

Getting sweaty

Serving as a volunteer host family to overseas students

...the first snowfall of the season - my yard will be filled with snow angels:)

...riding solo through the nearby reserve

...get together with friends after bike ride

...volunteer at Special Olympics

...distribute and fit bike helmets for local children's hospital

...shopping and dinner with the granddaughters

...a day at the beach

...curling up with a book and glass of wine on a stormy night

Simple pleasure in anticipation: enjoying my grandchild (if all goes well, in about 6 months).

Grandkids are great:) Do you know if it's a boy or girl yet?

You might want to start buying the bike equipment now. A kiddie trailer is a must.

A really good pair of bib shorts.

Having folks like DG who will start a thread like this
Getting a phone call from Mia (see avatar)
+1 on that first cup of coffee
An actual letter from a friend
A really good beer
The Sunday comics
A far away train whistle late at night
The smell of burning leaves (I know, I know)

>>> ...that first cup of coffee in the morning

. . .sipped in the garden of an early Summer morning.

>>> Playing 'Georgia on my Mind' on the piano

Donald Fagen [the vocal half of Steely Dan] calls 'Georgia' the most beautiful three minutes ever created.

OK, I'll add:

1. New socks,
2. An innocent flirt,
3. Seeing a fair sized black bear lumber off THAT way when you're lumbering off THE OTHER way [as I was just reminded when it happened today],
4. Endorphins [see 'bear' above].

Count My Blessings

Can I change my vote for best thread ever to this one? I hope it goes on forever.

Getting up early without an alarm clock to the sound of birds chirping
Napping after a great bike ride
Reading the New York Times on Sunday morning with Hermes
Sunsets
Sunrises
Popping kelp on the beach
The steam room after a great bike ride
Foot massages
Skiing through fresh powder and "corduroy"
A good laugh

Central a/c on a hot summer day......

Having our two horses run up to us when we enter the pasture where we are keeping them.
One is inquisitive and has to have her nose in everything that is going on. The "landlord" said he had hired some kids to do some weed eating around the fenceline, and she followed them everywhere they went. Our gelding is more laid back-just takes everything in stride (no pun intended). If you are standing by him, he will lean into you, like a big dog would, and loves to be petted. I was never really a horse person, don't ride, but Donna does. I'm beginning to understand why she enjoys having a horse now, and I may learn to ride. Unfortunately, the bikes are now gathering dust, new job takes up majority of time, horses have taken up the rest lately.

Opening up 50 Plus and finding a new thread started by DG...

If there is a piece of dried mucus deep in your nasal passages and it's annoying the heck out of you, it feels great to finally dislodge it, especially if you do it via snot-rocket.

simply being alive and well

Thought of a few more:

Marigolds. Both the sprouting of seeds and the flowers. They remind me of the German-extraction farm girls I knew in my youth. Reliable, sturdy, cheerful, sensible, uncomplicated, independant, and pretty.

The sight of my mailbox after a long trip.

Inserting the reverse thread side of a bottom bracket without cross-threading. Mmmmm, satisfying.

Scents: black locust flower, mock orange flower.

Sounds: wood thrush, small block Ford at high rpm.

Thought of a few more:

Marigolds. Both the sprouting of seeds and the flowers. They remind me of the German-extraction farm girls I knew in my youth. Reliable, sturdy, cheerful, sensible, uncomplicated, independant, and pretty.

.

I can add another one now.....

Knowing that someone appreciates those German farm girls:)

If there is a piece of dried mucus deep in your nasal passages and it's annoying the heck out of you, it feels great to finally dislodge it, especially if you do it via snot-rocket.
:eek:

Can I change my vote for best thread ever to this one? I hope it goes on forever.
Me too...as long as it doesn't morph into a haiku thread!!!

Tailwind (not that there actually is such a thing). :)

Jamming on the harmonica with a guitar player on a song I've never heard before - and nailing the groove. :D

A beautiful sunrise or sunset, and the time to see them. Reading to my youngest grandson( the older children can read to me). Locking into the pocket with a good drummer in a classic rock or blues tune(I'm a bass player).Bike ride early in the morning when the dew is still on the ground. There is usually something good about every day, it is just sometimes hard to see.

A slow easy ride with my kids.

Waking up

Bacon and tomato sandwich, on toasted whole wheat bread, with miracle whip. It's mandatory that the tomatoes be vine ripe from your own backyard vegetable garden.

Sipping on my hot coffee on a Sunday Morning Recumbent ride. Legs up at recliner height and seat back set to that perfect angle to partake of my favorite beverage.

Getting used to a Single speed Cross Bike on a local trail, riding nearly silent with no chain slap or gears changing.

Getting up early at Scout Camp BEFORE the Scouts are up, listening to the sounds of nature, and knowing that soon enough, all hell will break loose.

Enjoying new things, like going to my first Twilight Criterium.

Having my Grand Son Matthew just come out and say on his own, "I love you".

Bluebirds singing
Buzzards plying the winds,
Hawks calling,
Smell of pine woods after a rain,
Riding in light snow fall in the dark,
Bike headlight playing on the fog,
Warming up after a cold ride,
Having enough,
Not having to much,

Many more but will let others post.

Bobwhite quail song.

Leaving work early to go for a bike ride:)

Having my grandson attack me when I'm relaxing on the couch.

Squashing the will of my opponents like bugs.

Oh, and watching my dormant garden come to life.

And listening to Clifford Brown play.

Feeling like nothing in the world can stop me if I've got a full tank of gas in the car.

Lying on the couch with my dog Bailey snuggled on top of my side, where he fits perfectly.

A ripe mango.

Happening on a manta ray while diving and capturing it with the camera.

Swimming with dolphins in the wild.

Being able to recognize and take pleasure when we see the simple things in life, like creative humor.

Sign at a pre-school in an area with scant parking for many businesses. I laughed my butt off.

Parking for "Blank" Pre-School Only

All Others Will Be Fingerpainted

Rain on the tent at night when I'm camping. (During the day it just sucks.)

Catching and releasing bluegills caught on flies. Ditto for eager brookies. Been awhile...gotta get up North soon.

Ditto on the "thrown together meal with a good wine". Or how about a good pizza + a good red Zin. Something magic happens when it's right.

Hot soup on a cold day.

Sitting with Mrs, each of us engrossed in a book, sharing the moment without a word except to share an apt phrase we come across.


Bacon and tomato sandwich, on toasted whole wheat bread, with miracle whip. It's mandatory that the tomatoes be vine ripe from your own backyard vegetable garden.

For me, it's a fresh tomato/cucumber salad.



If there is a piece of dried mucus deep in your nasal passages and it's annoying the heck out of you, it feels great to finally dislodge it, especially if you do it via snot-rocket.

Ditto! Many of us thought it, but it takes a special kind of person to say it! :)

Seeing your brand new bike that you ordered five months ago ... a definite woody-inducer.

my little dog snuggling up to me
the breeze on my face as I ride
sitting on the porch during a summer rain
watermelon!

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right
-Simple Gifts An old shaker hymn
Aaron Copeland's melody from Appalachian Spring wasn't bad either

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right
-Simple Gifts An old shaker hymn
Aaron Copeland's melody from Appalachian Spring wasn't bad either

I live about 45 minutes or so from Shaker Town. It's a great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

Planning a vacation with no particular goal in mind - just think of something fun and make it happen
Hitting the mother lode of good stuff at the church bazaar
Remembering a favorite book or CD from years ago, then finding it online for cheap
Unexpected visits from friends
Re-discovering the beauty of well-written short stories and poems in old anthologies
Free summer concerts
Seeing "The Nutcracker" in a grand theater at Christmastime
Day trips to nowhere in particular, finding great little restaurants, festivals, local historical sites or museums along the way that feed the memories for years to come
Birds at the feeders, dogs underfoot, livestock in the barnyard
[forgot one!]:Early morning or late night at the campground!

* a couple of cold beers on the front stoop with my neighbor/friend

* settling back in the recliner with the History Channel on and the cat snuggled upagainst my thigh

* a nice leisurely bike ride on a do-nothing day with no particular place to go.

* just sitting back and watching the wife and 3 daughters gathered together, laughing and happy
(my all-time favorite)

* the happy realization that the headache is gone

* a big bowl of French Vanilla Ice Cream

* a big bowl of Vanilla Custard

* canned green peas

* doing absolutely nothing and not feeling guilty about it

* leaning into the first turn on the bike ride

* the warm air on my face from the truck's heater on a cold February Morning

* the cold air on my face from the truck's AC on any July day

* the warm glow of the Sun on my skin after a long Northeast cloudy spell (often several weeks)

* sipping hot chocolate on the front stoop after shoveling the driveway clear of snow

* the warm glow I get reading all these posts THANK YOU D.G.

Lending the bike that got you started to a friend who thinks he might like to try out riding for fun and exercise, taking him to a beautiful trail ride in a local nature park, explaining some of the basics to him and watching that stupid grin on his face that I thought only I had for the six miles we rode together tonight! And then watching him drive away with your bike in the back of his truck.