Your weekend guide to interesting days

Today- Halloween,  Magic Day and Caramel Apple Day

Tomorrow - World Vegan Day, Zero Tasking Day, Authors' Day, Orphan Sunday, Go Cook For Your Pets Day and Extra Mile Day

Next Saturday - Bittersweet Chocolate With Almonds Day

November 31 - Since there aren't 31 days in November, you get a break

The Friday Fishwrap

All the news that's fit to wrap around a dead fish

The week in review

Monday - "Ready for the holiday season?" Are you?

Tuesday - "And the winner is..." Announcing the winner of my 400th blog post contest

Wednesday - "INTP" More about personality types

Thursday - "The Great Debate" One of the biggest debates of the 20th century is still raging well into the 21st century

Interesting days

This week

Saturday - United Nations Day and Make A Difference Day

Sunday - World Pasta Day, Punk for a Day Day, Sourest Day, International Artists Day and Mother-In-Law Day

Monday - Howl At The Moon Day and Mincemeat Day

Tuesday - Navy Day and Black Cat Day

Wednesday - Plush Animal Lover's Day and Animation Day

Thursday - Cat Day and Internet Day

Today - Checklist Day, Frankenstein Day, Create A Great Funeral Day and Candy Corn Day

Next week

Tomorrow - Halloween,  Magic Day and Caramel Apple Day

Sunday - World Vegan Day, Zero Tasking Day, Authors' Day, Orphan Sunday, Go Cook For Your Pets Day and Extra Mile Day

Monday - Traffic Directors Day, Job Action Day and Deviled Egg Day

Tuesday - Cliché Day, Housewife's Day, Jellyfish Day and Sandwich Day

Wednesday - Stress Awareness Day and Use Your Common Sense Day

Thursday - Gunpowder Day and Men Make Dinner Day

Friday - Saxophone Day Listen to some sax right here. It's also Nachos Day I may have to see if I can find who has the best nachos in the area. Any suggestions? And it's Love Your Lawyer Day I guess lawyers need love too

Next month

November 24 - Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day

November 25 - Shopping Reminder Day and Parfait Day 

November 26 - Cake Day

November 27 - Buy Nothing Day, Maize Day, Flossing Day, Systems Engineer Day and Pins And Needles Day

November 28 -  French Toast Day and Small Business Saturday

November 29 - International Aura Awareness Day, Square Dancing Day and Electronic Greetings Day

November 30 - Stay Home Because You're Well Day Now that sounds like an excellent reason to stay home! It's also Computer Security Day

The Great Debate

A Facebook friend shared this picture yesterday:

How many of you remember that TV series? And more importantly, how many of you remember the great debate about the show? If you're a male, in the 60 year old range, then I'm sure you already know what the debate is...but if you don't know I'll tell you in a minute (or maybe two depending on your reading speed).

In yesterday's blog post I talked about personality and personality tests, including the 4 question test at www.ipersonics.com but there's been a 3 word personality test around for the last 50 years. So what is it?

Ginger or Mary Ann?

As the article in the link says 

It's a question that's as much about personality and expectations as it is about looks. Ginger had the va-va-voom figure, the sparkly gowns (so many, packed for what was supposed to be a three-hour tour) and the breathy Marilyn Monroe voice. Mary Ann had a lovely figure too, though her outfits were more Daisy Mae than glamorous movie star. But she was the one viewers could relate to, a winsome farm girl who was as all-American as the flag. Ginger was the unattainable dream, Mary Ann the more realistic dream come true.

For years my response was Mary Ann, then it was "Yes" (why choose?) but more recently I've changed from an either/or mentality to a both/and one. So my answer is Ginger and Mary Ann. Not necessarily at the same time (get your mind out of the gutter...but if the opportunity presented itself, it wouldn't be fair to play favorites) but to live an abundance lifestyle.

Here's an interesting article Moving From Either/Or to Both/And on the subject. Here's a quote form that article:

So, what if there really is enough pie to go around, for everyone, all the time? I could kick myself, because so often I approach life with a limited, constrained point of view, which is really just a mentality of depletion and impoverishment. That's no way to live.

What if there is enough pie to go around? I think there is. Don't fall for the either/or trap. Because you can have it all.

Interesting days

Today - Cat Day and Internet Day What is it about the internet and cat videos?

Tomorrow - Checklist Day, Frankenstein Day, Create A Great Funeral Day and Candy Corn Day

I better buy some today so that I can build my own ear of corn. Photos tomorrow.

Next Thursday - Gunpowder Day and Men Make Dinner Day What do we do when there are two men in the house? Well, we do have a kitchen now. Maybe it's time to find out

November 29 - International Aura Awareness Day, Square Dancing Day and Electronic Greetings Day How last millennium!

INTP

I've seen the results of a personality test all over Facebook yesterday and today and I figured it was time to brush off an old blog post from March 10th of this year, with links to other posts that I did on the subject as well as links to other resources.

My results are very consistent...INTP - Introverted, iNtuitive, Thinking, Perceiver or according to www.iPersonics.com, an Analytical Thinker.

Analytical Thinkers are reserved, quiet persons. They like to get to the bottom of things - curiosity is one of their strongest motives. They want to know what holds the world together deep down inside. They do not really need much more to be happy because they are modest persons. Many mathematicians, philosophers and scientists belong to this type.

Analytical Thinkers loathe contradictions and illogicalness; with their sharp intellect, they quickly and comprehensively grasp patterns, principles and structures. They are particularly interested in the fundamental nature of things and theoretical findings; for them, it is not necessarily a question of translating these into practical acts or in sharing their considerations with others. Analytical Thinkers like to work alone; their ability to concentrate is more marked than that of all other personality types. They are open for and interested in new information.

Analytical Thinkers have little interest in everyday concerns - they are always a little like an “absent-minded professor” whose home and workplace are chaotic and who only concerns himself with banalities such as bodily needs when it becomes absolutely unavoidable. The acknowledgement of their work by others does not play a great role for them; in general, they are quite independent of social relationships and very self-reliant.

Analytical Thinkers therefore often give others the impression that they are arrogant or snobby - especially because they do not hesitate to speak their mind with their often harsh (even if justified) criticism and their imperturbable self-confidence. Incompetent contemporaries do not have it easy with them. But whoever succeeds in winning their respect and interest has a witty and very intelligent person to talk to. A partner who amazes one with his excellent powers of observation and his very dry humor.
It takes some time before Analytical Thinkers make friends, but then they are mostly friends for life. They only need very few people around them. Their most important ability is to be a match for them and thus give them inspiration. Constant social obligations quickly get on their nerves; they need a lot of time alone and often withdraw from others. Their partner must respect this and understand that this is not due to the lack of affection. Once they have decided in favor of a person, Analytical Thinkers are loyal and reliable partners. However, one cannot expect romance and effusive expressions of feelings from them and they will definitely forget their wedding anniversary. But they are always up to a night spent with stimulating discussions and a good glass of wine!

What do you think? Does this sound like me?

Interesting days

Today - Plush Animal Lover's Day and Animation Day What's your favorite cartoon?

Tomorrow - Cat Day and Internet Day A match made in heaven (or hell depending on your point of view)

Next Wednesday - Stress Awareness Day and Use Your Common Sense Day We have way too much of one and way not enough of the other

November 28 -  French Toast Day I love French toast! It's also Small Business Saturday

And the winner is...

Annie Stenger!

Since there was only one entry in the 400th blog contest, it made it easy to choose a winner. However, I really like the one she selected as her favorite: "Sharing ideas" from September 10th of this year. It was actually a guest post by Annie (which may be why she liked it) but it was also really helpful for me since it was one less post that I had to write plus I was in Anaheim at the time for the SendOutCards National Convention and the hotel where I was staying had a very flaky internet connection...in fact, two of the posts I created that week just disappeared into the ether!

So, thank you Annie and congratulations!

Interesting days

Today - Navy Day and Black Cat Day And I also hear that it's American Beer Day

Pleasanton was well known for its hops at the turn of the last century. I may have to go to The Hop Yard to celebrate.

Tomorrow - Plush Animal Lover's Day and Animation Day

Next Tuesday - Cliché Day, Housewife's Day, Jellyfish Day and Sandwich Day What's your favorite? Peanut butter and jellyfish?

November 27 - Buy Nothing Day How I celebrate Black Friday every year. And it's Maize Day. And to help you get rid of those kernels stuck in your teeth, it's also Flossing Day. And let's not forget Systems Engineer Day and Pins And Needles Day

Ready for the holiday season?

With only 60 more days until Christmas and Hanukkah approaching even more quickly, I thought it would be good to share my monthly SendOutCards blog. If you haven't signed up for my email list yet, just click on the link above and put your email address in the box. You'll receive a welcome email and a monthly notification when my new blog entry is posted. 

October 23, 2015 by r_tompkins

Ready or not, the holiday season is swiftly approaching. While some people embrace the holiday season, most people tend to view its approach with a bit of trepidation. If you aren’t one of those who already has wrapped gifts tucked away in closets just waiting to be put under the tree the instant Halloween is over, there’s no need to worry.

With a little planning, you too can embrace the approaching holidays. As with any event  - whether it is a meeting for work, a baby shower or a game night with friends – a little bit of organization can go a long way. It’s all in the planning.

One of the best ways to get organized is to make a checklist of all the tasks that need to be accomplished. If you are already feeling stressed about those Christmas cards, how about a little help? This Holiday Checklist from SendOutCards will help take the stress of planning off your shoulders.

Besides the planning, money is usually another source of stress. But planning ahead is actually a very important part of reducing these worries. Armed with a list of gifts you need to buy and how much you can afford to spend on each one, you will be better equipped to fend off those impulse buys and stick to your budget. Even with a list, picking out the right gifts can be challenging. Remember that gifts are about much more than the cost. They are a way to show people that you care and appreciate them. Focus on finding a gift that fits the receiver’s personality or a gift that reflects a special connection you have.

If you are still a little concerned, how about some help? Check out our awesome selection of cards and gifts!

Interesting days

 

Today - Howl At The Moon Day and Mincemeat Day It is a full moon tonight...just watch out for werewolves!

Tomorrow - Navy Day and Black Cat Day Is it still unlucky if a black cat crosses your path today?

Next Monday - Traffic Directors Day, Job Action Day and Deviled Egg Day

November 26 - Cake Day

The Funday Sunnies

Interesting days

Today - World Pasta Day, Punk for a Day Day, Sourest Day, International Artists Day and Mother-In-Law Day I don't think I'll go punk for the day, but I think some pasta sounds good

Tomorrow - Howl At The Moon Day and Mincemeat Day

November - World Vegan Month

Next Sunday - World Vegan Day and Zero Tasking Day I'll have to tell my boss about this one. It's also Authors' Day, Orphan Sunday, Go Cook For Your Pets Day and Extra Mile Day

November 25 - Shopping Reminder Day Only one more month! It's also Parfait Day Yum!

Saturday in the park

Well...again I was in the park on Friday. Perhaps I'll write about it this week. Until then, how about some

Interesting days

Today - United Nations Day and Make A Difference Day

Tomorrow - Punk for a Day Day, Sourest Day, International Artists Day, Mother-In-Law Day and World Pasta Day Pasta!

Next Saturday - Halloween, of course! And it's Magic Day Marking the anniversary of Harry Houdini's death. It's also Caramel Apple Day I think I'll have to celebrate this one

November 24 - Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day What's yours?

The Friday Fishwrap

All the news that's fit to wrap around a dead fish

The week in review

Monday - "No particular place to go" Just some random thoughts

Tuesday - "400th blog post!" I've only had one entry in the 400th blog post contest. I'll be announcing the winner next week, so it's not too late to enter

Wednesday - "Can I get a system?" About a couple of the systems I use in my SendOutCards business

Thursday - "Warning: Geekiness ahead!: Some geeky celebrations this year

Here's the link to this week's Periscope video

Interesting days

This week

Saturday - Spreadsheet Day, Bridge Day, Sweetest Day, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Mulligan Day and Wear Something Gaudy Day

Sunday - No Beard Day, World Toy Camera Day and Chocolate Cupcake Day

Monday - Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day and Evaluate Your Life Day

Tuesday - Brandied Fruit Day

Wednesday - Apple Day, Count Your Buttons Day and Reptile Awareness Day

Thursday - Caps Lock Day, Nut Day and Smart is Cool Day

Today - TV Talk Show Host Day, iPod Day and Mole Day

Next week

Tomorrow - United Nations Day and Make A Difference Day

Sunday - World Pasta Day, Punk for a Day Day, Sourest Day, International Artists Day and Mother-In-Law Day

Monday - Howl At The Moon Day and Mincemeat Day

Tuesday - Navy Day and Black Cat Day

Wednesday - Plush Animal Lover's Day and Animation Day

Thursday - Cat Day and Internet Day

Friday - Checklist Day, Frankenstein Day, Create A Great Funeral Day and Candy Corn Day

Next month

November 17 - Homemade Bread Day, Entrepreneurs' Day, World Prematurity Day, Take A Hike Day, Petroleum Day and Unfriend Day

November 18 - Occult Day

November 19 - Have A Bad Day Day,  World Toilet Day, International Men's Day and Use Less Stuff Day

November 20 - Name Your PC Day, African Industrialization Day, Universal Children's Day and Peanut Butter Fudge Day

November 21 - World Television Day and World Hello Day

November 22 -  International Aura Awareness Day and Go For A Ride Day

November 23 - Fibonacci Day 11/23 are the 1st 4 digits of the Fibonacci sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8...

Warning: Geekiness ahead!

This has been a very good year for geeks: on March 14th we had the Pi Day of the Century and yesterday was Back to the Future Day...the day that Marty McFly traveled 30 years into the future to rescue his children.

But the fun doesn't end there! Tomorrow is Mole Day!

Today is my 402nd blog post and I thought that I'd be announcing the winner of the 400th blog post contest but nobody bothered to enter...oh well. More brownies for me!

I guess that's it for now!

Interesting days

Today - Caps Lock Day or should it be cAPS lOCK dAY? It's also Nut Day and Smart is Cool Day

Tomorrow - TV Talk Show Host Day, iPod Day and Mole Day

Next Thursday - Cat Day and Internet Day These two days seem to go together very well

November 22 -  International Aura Awareness Day and Go For A Ride Day I remember as a kid just taking Sunday drives to no place in particular...just getting in the car and my dad randomly picking a direction

Can I get a system?

For some reason I thought of this song when I was thinking about a title for today's blog post.

I wrote about systems before. Here's a post from January of this year: http://ricktompkins.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-few-days-ago-i-talked-about-how.html. I still use those tools plus a couple of more. The first one is generic and is called BizRunner, which provides a "Contacting App for Direct Sales" and they make it fun by giving you medals for performing business building activities. There is also a SendOutCards specific version available at www.apabiz.com

Here's what my BizRunner screen looked like as of yesterday:

The other tool I use was developed by many people in SendOutCards but mostly DeMarr Zimmerman, Bart Miller and "Super" Dave Smith. It's called APA (which is why the link above is for APABiz). It stands for Ask, Present, Ask

Ask - Ask the Golden Question "If I could show you a way to make money with your smart phone by sharing an app that everybody loves to use, would you want to see it?"

Present - Show how to use the SendOutCards mobile app and how to make money using the Mobile Pocket Presentation

Ask - "If you had to make a decision today, are you a 1, 2, 3 or 4?" (If you don't know what those numbers mean, ask me)

Interesting days

Today - Apple Day, Count Your Buttons Day and Reptile Awareness Day

Tomorrow - Caps Lock Day, Nut Day and Smart is Cool Day

Next Wednesday - Plush Animal Lover's Day and Animation Day How many plush animals began as cartoon characters?

November 21 - World Television Day and World Hello Day Don't talk to me, I'm watching TV

400th blog post!

I started posting on a regular basis on August 31st of last year. That's right after I moved from Pleasanton to Paradise, which is why I had this cover photo for such a long time:

I kept using it for quite a while after I moved away from Paradise, but it wasn't really relevant anymore.so I changed it to the current picture. Which I also bought the rights for it.

I'm going to run a contest like I did for my 200th blog. I'd like my readers to pick their favorite blog post from the last 399 posts and I'll send brownies to whoever picks the post that I feature in an upcoming blog post. The winner of the 200th blog post contest was Elizabeth Walker and her favorite post was called "Taking the plunge" from March 9, 2015. And here is an updated post about why that post was her favorite.

For my 300th blog post, I did something different and listed the top 3 most popular posts, which were:

1. With 103 views: http://ricktompkins.blogspot.com/2014/10/another-minimal-blog-post.html I really have no idea why this one was viewed so much!

2. With 54 views: http://ricktompkins.blogspot.com/2012/09/this-is-my-1st-blog-on-blogger.html My first post, so i can see why this might have been viewed so much

3. With 48 views: http://ricktompkins.blogspot.com/2015/04/attention-business-owners-and-sales.html This was a post on a SendOutCards event in Fresno with Casey Eberhart. And it was a great event.

Let me see what the 3 most popular are now (although the stats are slightly off):

1. With 102 views: http://ricktompkins.blogspot.com/2014/10/another-minimal-blog-post.html

2. With 48 views: http://ricktompkins.blogspot.com/2015/04/attention-business-owners-and-sales.html

3. With 46 views http://ricktompkins.blogspot.com/2015/01/im-going-to-close-my-johari-window-and.html

I have no Idea why the stats are different!

Interesting days

Today - Brandied Fruit Day

Tomorrow - Apple Day, Count Your Buttons Day and Reptile Awareness Day

Next Tuesday - Navy Day I may have to break out my navy blazer to celebrate. And it's Black Cat Day It's not easy being a black cat most of the time, but this is a day they can celebrate

November 20 - Name Your PC Day This is something I hadn't thought about before. It's also African Industrialization Day, Universal Children's Day and Peanut Butter Fudge Day Yum!

No particular place to go

Just like Chuck Berry, this blog post has no particular place to go. I have no idea what I'm going to write about today, so I'll be just as surprised as you when I get to the end of it!

One thing I want to mention is that I just started using the BizRunner app in my SendOutCards business. This app allows me to import all of the contacts from my phone and into the app. From there I can contact everybody in my contacts by phone, text or email using either a blank template or the Golden Question - "If I could show you a way to make money with your smart phone, by sharing an app the everybody loves to use, would you want to see it?". If the answer is yes, feel free to email me at rick.tompkins@yahoo.com or call or text me at (707)685-1382.

Another thing that I want to mention is Dennis Beckman's "Cashflow 101" Meetup will be this Saturday. Here's the description of the game:

Meet other local fans of the financial board game of CashFlow 101/202 by Kiyosaki. We'll be exploring some interesting concepts to enhance the practical application of the game. You won't look at the world of finance & investing the same way again! If you have a copy of the game please bring it along. We usually get more then one going at a time. Danville CashFlow Game Meetup - EastBayPlus Cash Flow club is an official RichDad Cash Flow club. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate children at this location. If we find a different venue that is more "kid-friendly" then that, of course, can change. Let's have some FUN!

This is where I was introduced to SendOutCards a little over 3 1/2 years ago.

One final thing...tomorrow will be my 400th blog post!!!!

Interesting days

 

Today - Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day and Evaluate Your Life Day Clean off your desktop and clean out your life

Tomorrow - Brandied Fruit Day

Next Monday - Howl At The Moon Day It will be a full moon, so there should be plenty to howl at. It's also Mincemeat Day

November 19 - Have A Bad Day Day,  Use Less Stuff Day, World Toilet Day and International Men's Day

The Funday Sunnies

Interesting days

Today - No Beard Day, World Toy Camera Day and Chocolate Cupcake Day I celebrated No Beard Day on Friday by getting a shave and a haircut. But I will be celebrating Chocolate Cupcake Day today (and maybe tomorrow)

Tomorrow - Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day and Evaluate Your Life Day I try to clean my virtual desktop occasionally but this seems like a good day to do it again. And I really like this picture about evaluating your life

Next Sunday - World Pasta Day This sounds like a good day to go to Strings in Livermore. It's also Punk for a Day Day What do you think? Should I go punk for a day? And it's Sourest Day, International Artists Day and Mother-In-Law Day

November 18 - Occult Day

Your weekend guide to interesting days

Today - Spreadsheet Day, Bridge Day, Sweetest Day, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Mulligan Day and Wear Something Gaudy Day I will be wearing my 1st day of summer shirt

Tomorrow - No Beard Day, World Toy Camera Day and Chocolate Cupcake Day Yay!

Next Saturday - United Nations Day and Make A Difference Day

November 17 - Homemade Bread Day That sounds pretty tasty! It's also Entrepreneurs' Day, World Prematurity Day, Take A Hike Day, Petroleum Day and Unfriend Day There's even a Facebook page for Unfriend Day https://www.facebook.com/NationalUnFriendDay?fref=ts

The Friday Fishwrap

All the news that's fit to wrap around a dead fish

The week in review

Monday - "What is network marketing all about?" My view on why network marketing works

Tuesday - "Easy ways to save a little $$" A re-purposed post from my monthly SendOutCards blog

Wednesday - "The Lost Art of Cheap Recreation" A blog post from The Art of Manliness

Thursday - "The Secrets of a Perfect Shave" A podcast from The Art of Manliness in honor of "No Beard Day" on Sunday

Here's this week's video

Interesting days

This week

Saturday - World Homeless Day, Handbag Day, Universal Music Day, Hug A Drummer Day, Cake Decorating Day and World Porridge Day

Sunday - Coming Out Day

Monday - Old Farmers Day, Native American Day and World Arthritis Day

Tuesday - Yorkshire Pudding Day, Face Your Fears Day and Ada Lovelace Day

Wednesday - World Maths Day,  Emergency Nurses Day, Hagfish Day, Be Bald And Free Day, Pet Obesity Awareness Day and Bring Your Teddy Bear To Work & School Day

Thursday - Conflict Resolution Day, Chicken Cacciatore Day, Get Smart About Credit Day and White Cane Safety Day

Today - Steve Jobs Day, World Food Day, Boss' Day, Feral Cat Day, Department Store Day and Dictionary Day

Next week

Tomorrow - Spreadsheet Day, Bridge Day, Sweetest Day, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Mulligan Day and Wear Something Gaudy Day

Sunday - No Beard Day, World Toy Camera Day and Chocolate Cupcake Day

Monday - Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day and Evaluate Your Life Day

Tuesday - Brandied Fruit Day

Wednesday - Apple Day, Count Your Buttons Day and Reptile Awareness Day

Thursday - Caps Lock Day, Nut Day and Smart is Cool Day

Friday - TV Talk Show Host Day, iPod Day and Mole Day

Next month

November 10 - Sesame Street Day and Area Code Day

November 11 - Origami Day

November 12 -Fancy Rat & Mouse Day and Pizza With The Works Except Anchovies Day

November 13 - World Kindness Day

November 14 - Operating Room Nurse Day, Spicy Guacamole Day, World Diabetes Day, Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day and Pickle Day

November 15 - Philanthropy Day, I Love to Write Day, Guinness World Record Day, World Student Day and Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

November 16 - Button Day (not to be confused with Count Your Buttons Day) and Have a Party with Your Bear Day (not to be confused with Bring Your Teddy Bear To Work & School Day)

The Secrets of a Perfect Shave

Since Sunday is No Beard Day I thought I'd share an Art of Manliness podcast on "The Secrets of a Perfect Shave"

The very first article I published on The Art of Manliness was How to Shave Like Your Grandpa, where I explained how to get started with safety razor shaving. Lots of guys learned about old-school shaving from that article, but there is another guy who has brought far more men into the fold of safety razor shaving — and all kinds of shaving for that matter — than that article. His name is Mark Herro, but he’s better known as Mantic59. Through his YouTube videos, he’s taught millions of men how to shave, and in so doing has become the “Dad of the Internet.” Besides his popular YouTube channel, Mark runs the shaving blog Sharpologist. Today on the podcast, Mark and I discuss the ins and outs of old school wet shaving and the secrets of getting a close, comfortable shave.

Show Highlights

• How Mark ended up teaching millions of men how to shave on the internet
• The benefits of shaving with a safety razor
• Affordable wet shaving starter kits
• Do you need a brush?
• The steps to a perfect shave
• The strokes you should use to get a close, comfortable shave
• What to do about razor burn
• How big shaving companies have responded to the rise of traditional wet shaving
• And much more!

If you shave on a regular basis and have thought about making the switch to safety razor shaving, be sure to check out Mark’s blog, Sharpologist, and his YouTube channel. You’ll find everything you need to know in order to get started.

Interesting days

Today - Conflict Resolution Day, Chicken Cacciatore Day, Get Smart About Credit Day and White Cane Safety Day

Tomorrow - Steve Jobs Day, World Food Day, Boss' Day, Feral Cat Day, Department Store Day and Dictionary Day

Next Thursday - Caps Lock Day and Nut Day

And it's also Smart is Cool Day

November 15 - Philanthropy Day, I Love to Write Day, Guinness World Record Day, World Student Day and perhaps the scariest day of the year Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

The Lost Art of Cheap Recreation

I'm continuing with the money saving ideas that I started yesterday with this article from The Art of Manliness:

Last month some friends of ours invited us to be on their team for a non-stop overnight running relay race. Each member of the team would be charged with running several legs of the 200-mile course, which wound its way through a bunch of scenic state parks. The 10-person crew would be split into two vans. One van was to be the active van, in which team members jumped in and out to run their respective legs, while the other van followed behind, waiting for its turn to become the active one. Over one day and two nights, the vans would thus leapfrog their way to the finish.

The event seemed to offer both pros and cons, and I had a hard time deciding whether or not to sign up. On the pro side, the backdrop for the race was quite appealing, as was the chance to spend some (intense, sleep-deprived) time with friends. On the con side was the fact that I hate running, that it seemed like most of one’s time was spent trapped inside a stinky van rather than out in nature, and that the entry fee for each person was $100.

As I went back and forth about whether to join in the (maybe) fun, a friend sought to persuade me to the yes side by saying, “Think of it as a chance to spend time in the outdoors and have great conversations.” To which I wanted to reply, “If it’s nature and bonding we’re after, why don’t we all collectively save ourselves $1,000, and go camping together instead?”

I didn’t say that though. I didn’t want to be impolite and rain on anyone’s parade.

I actually have little against these kinds of events and their ilk, like obstacle races, GoRuck Challenges, and such. They can be a great time, and you can often certainly get your money’s worth.

It just seems sometimes that my (admittedly modest) social life revolves around invitations to well-structured, paid events — not just physical challenges, but fundraising trivia nights, concerts, festivals, sports games, and so on.

Rare it is, it seems, for folks to invite their friends for inexpensive, loosely structured, informal social gatherings. You know, something like, “Hey! Want to come over and hang out and have some pizza?”

Yes, it seems like we’ve lost the art of cheap recreation.

The Lost Art of Cheap Recreation

I know, I know. Asserting the idea that we’ve forgotten the art of cheap recreation sounds like one of those wistful, nostalgic statements that’s based merely on anecdotal evidence.

But just as you should never bring a knife to a gun fight, you should never look wistfully on the past without some stats to back up your sentiments. And brother I’ve got ‘em.

First, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics, since 2003 the amount of time Americans spend either attending or hosting social events has declined by 30%. And the drop is even steeper amongst the younger generation; those aged 15 to 24 are spending 40% less time hosting and attending social events than they did a decade ago. At the same time, the number of hours we spend both attending and participating in sports, culture, and arts-related events has held steady.

Yet even though we’re hosting and attending less get-togethers and parties, while participating in and watching recreational activities at the same rate, the portion of our personal consumption we spend on leisure pursuits has gone up 30% over the last four and half decades. In terms of dollars (adjusted for inflation), in 1970 the average American spent $850 on recreation each year, while today each person spends $2500. In other words, despite the fact that the overall time we spend on social/physical/cultural recreation is down, we’re spending 3X as much money on it than we did 45 years ago.

What this data suggests is that while we don’t recreate as often, when we do, we tend to choose more expensive activities to engage in — things like $40-a-plate fundraising trivia nights, $100 relay races, $85 NFL games, and $150 music festivals. Not to mention the many web-born-turned-in-the-flesh conferences and camps that are offered these days, which are sometimes business-related but often attended just for fun.

Any way you slice it, the facts bear out my nostalgia: recreation can be an expensive proposition these days.

The Rise of Paid Entertainment

So what’s behind this trend of our spending more? I’d like to suggest a few possibilities:

We’re used to pre-planned, structured activities. One thing I think my generation struggles with is knowing how to be a self-starter. Growing up as Millennial girls and boys, our schedules were often pretty structured. Rather than being left to roam and improvise games of sandlot baseball, we joined organized sports leagues and went on preplanned play dates with mom. We chose our high school classes carefully and made sure to take part in plenty of structured extracurriculars to pad our college applications. Now as adults, we’re rather lost as to how to make our own fun, and create our own activities. Accustomed to just having to show up to pre-organized events and participate, we lack much experience in planning and hosting our own shindigs. Thus, paid-for entertainment is quite appealing; we want our experiences to be turn-key. Packing up, setting up, cleaning up? Seems like a lot of hassle.

We’re acclimated to high-caliber experiences. Once you start paying a premium for seamless, hassle-free recreation, that becomes your norm for leisure. Everything else comes to feel a little shabby, even embarrassing. When The New York Times did a story on why young people weren’t throwing parties anymore, some of the Millennials they interviewed cited a perceived inflation in their peers’ expectations. Having been reared in a culture that celebrates gourmet this, and artisanal that, they felt like they couldn’t have their friends over for dinner unless they created an impressive spread. They couldn’t just make a casserole and offer a 24-pack of Natty Light; they felt they needed to put out some tri-tip and kale tacos along with special craft beer.

Unfortunately, once you’ve become acclimated to top-notch recreation, doing anything short of that can seem pointless. Perhaps that’s part of why the percentage of Americans who vacation abroad has doubled since 1970. When it comes to travel, you either go big or go home. Exploring your hometown or the next city over? Why bother?

Special events make inviting easier. Here’s another thing Millenials struggle with: socializing, off-line. Especially when it comes to making friends in adulthood. I know I’ve certainly discovered that it’s often difficult to do. You’ve got to make that leap from acquaintances at church or work, to getting together outside those institutions. But inviting someone over to just hang out or to have dinner can feel vulnerable and weird. Asking someone to be on a relay race team, on the other hand, is much easier and low-risk. Special events give you a clear reason for getting together with people, and thus take the pressure off making social invitations. Hence, their popularity with the socially awkward/those who struggle with making friends as adults. So, most of us.

The Case for Cheap Recreation

It’s clear that our tendency these days to choose premium, paid-for recreation over the cheaper, more casual variety is not without its advantages. And again, I’m not at all opposed to participating in such events. In moderation. For there are very good reasons to season our leisure time with cheap recreation too:

The cheaper the recreation, the more often you can do it. A trip to a MLB baseball game is something the average budget can only afford to indulge in occasionally, while the number of impromptu softball games people can engage in is virtually endless.

Cheap recreation can involve all of your friends, regardless of their financial status. One of the difficult things about post-college friendship is that not everyone ends up in the same financial situation, and not everyone can afford the entrance fees for all the special events they get invited to. Cheap get-togethers, on the other hand, are open to all comers.

Cheap recreation gives you the chance to improvise and create. It surely is nice to attend an event where your only job is to show up and have fun. But it’s also satisfying now and again to create an experience for others. When you’re trying to keep things as frugal as you can, you also have the opportunity to figure out how to make as much as possible out of as little as possible — in other words, to practice the manly skill of improvisation.

Cheap recreation often provides more adventure/memories. Even though a lot of paid-for events tout their risk, toughness, adventure, etc., in reality, the organizers are going to be doing all they can to make the affair as predictable and safe as they can, while still giving it a daring feeling. Such events are typically highly planned out and structured. Experiences you create yourself, however, do have a very real aspect of risk and unpredictability — the elements that create true adventure and memories!

How to Keep Cheap Recreation Cheap

We’ve been talking all along here about “cheap” recreation, but of course, cheap is a somewhat relative term; what’s cheap for somebody with a six-figure income may seem pricey for someone just getting by. So too, many activities are not cheap or expensive by their nature, and can in fact be executed either frugally or fancily; that is, you can have a backyard movie night where you serve escargot or one where you only offer popcorn. Likewise, hiking can be a literally dirt cheap form of recreation, but not if you decide to invest in a top-of-the-line pack and lots of other gear. Thus, the possible activities suggested on the list below should be seen as having the ready potential to be cheap, should one exercise restraint and judiciously bring them about.

Some of the surest ways of doing that are to 1) borrow all the equipment you need when possible, rather than buying it, and 2) ask everyone to chip in. If passing around the hat makes you uncomfortable, rely on the law of reciprocity. That is, you cover most of the costs of something when you’re the host, and then your friends take turns doing likewise. For example, my friends and I have a loose agreement to host each other for dinner once a month; the host for that month provides the entrée and drinks, while the other two couples bring a side dish and dessert. Thus each family takes turns taking on the bulk of the cost of our get-togethers. This arrangement also lessens the hassle and burden of one host having to whip up an entire meal themselves; potlucks for the win!

Ideas for Reclaiming the Art of Cheap Recreation

Need an idea for cheap recreation? I’ve got two words for you: weenie roast.

Recreation is a broad term; it can be engaged in solo or in a group, and includes everything from quiet indoor activities like reading and listening to music, to outdoor activities like biking and hiking, to immersive pursuits like hobbies and traveling. The focus of this post has been on social recreation, as the expenses involved in the solitary variety haven’t seen the same kind of upwards creep. It’s also generally easier to think of ways to amuse oneself, rather than a group. (If you need ideas on this front, check out this list of easy ways to entertain yourself, as well as our list of hobbies.)

Thus the following ideas for reviving the art of cheap recreation center on group activities that are low on the hassle factor and can be enjoyed by family or friends:

• Picnic. Skip the restaurant, and dine out in nature. A ham sandwich and chips seems humdrum when eaten at home, but splendid when consumed against a bucolic backdrop.
• Board games. There are tons of reasons to gather around a good board game, including the fun of friendly competition, and the enjoyment of pressure-free conversation.
• Biking. Bet you haven’t ridden a bike in awhile, much less ridden in a pack like you did as a boy. Get some friends together and cruise around town, exploring new places and neighborhoods.
• Potluck dinner. An easy way to execute dinner parties with friends.
• Caving. Explore the earth’s dark depths.
• DIY obstacle course. It really doesn’t take much to build your own backyard OCR. Put one together, and invite your friends to compete for glory.
• Free night at the museum. Lots of museums have one day a month where admission is totally free. Take advantage of it!
• Grill out. The absolute easiest way to host a dinner for folks, especially in the summer. Meat, buns, chips, and watermelon. There needn’t be any actual cooking involved.
• Book club. They’re not just for ladies, and can provide ample edifying entertainment for a coed crew or group of gents.
• Fishing. Whether or not you catch a big one, you’ll reel in plenty of conversation and peaceful relaxation.
• Urban exploration. Natural features aren’t the only things that can be explored; search through old abandoned buildings and places in your hometown.
• Plinking. If you or a friend own some land where it’s legal to shoot guns, have some fun plinking the afternoon away. It’s also legal to target shoot in National Forests.
• Stargazing. Task a few people in your group with each figuring out a constellation that will be visible in your location, and how to find it. Then gather in a place away from light pollution, and have these guides try to point out the constellations to the group.
• Hiking. People pay $100 for the chance to trudge 9 miles with their friends; do it on your own for free!
• Backyard movie night. Have a projector (or have a friend with one)? Set up a sheet and some chairs, pop some popcorn, ask everyone to bring their favorite candy, and host a movie night in your backyard.
• Weenie roast. Fire, sticks, hot dogs. Stupidly simply; profoundly satisfying. You can also spice things up by introducing the many other foods you can cook on a stick.

Truly, the number of possible cheap recreational activities and surprisingly fun microadventures is limited only to the imagination.

How to Make It Happen

A couple centuries ago, people thought it was a blast to gather in each other’s parlors to listen to someone read aloud, act out a dramatic monologue, recite a poem, play charades, or have a sing-a-long around the piano.

These days, we’ve made recreation, particularly of the social variety, a lot more complicated. We feel we must have a big, formal, structured event around which to gather. But it just isn’t so. Think back to when you were in high school or college; young people may be throwing fewer parties these days, but they remain by necessity the masters of cheap recreation. They don’t need a big reason to get together — a swimming pool, a game of spoons, or MarioKart will suffice. Seeing each other is reason enough.

Oh, I know those freewheeling days may be over for you, and you’re busy now as a grownup (though not as much as you think). You might feel like people won’t respond well if you ask them to just hang out, absent some expensive tent pole event. But I think you’d be surprised; people are hungry to reclaim some of that old casual high school hangout.

Why, just this week I literally texted some friends with this exact come-on: “Would you like to come over tomorrow night for some pizza and conversation?” They responded with an enthusiastic yes.

The pizza was cheap. The conversation was great.

Long live the art of cheap recreation!

Interesting days

Today -  Emergency Nurses Day, Hagfish Day, Be Bald And Free Day, Pet Obesity Awareness Day, Bring Your Teddy Bear To Work & School Day and World Maths Day

Who says that math can't be fun?

And I just found out that today is also National Dessert Day!

Thursday - Conflict Resolution Day, Chicken Cacciatore Day, Get Smart About Credit Day and White Cane Safety Day

Next Wednesday - Apple Day, Count Your Buttons Day and Reptile Awareness Day

November 14 - Operating Room Nurse Day, Spicy Guacamole Day, World Diabetes Day, Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day and Pickle Day