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).

+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

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.

>>> ...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].

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