How do you escape from everyday life?

I really enjoy hanging out at the airport one or two days a week. Sometimes I even hop on a plane to Chicago or Atlanta, have lunch and fly home. Just depends on my mood. I once called my wife and asked her to guess where I was, she asked where? I told her Las Vegas. She said that I didn’t even pack a bag. So what? I can buy what I need in the lobby at Caesar’s or the Venetian. I have done that more than once. My wife claims it’s what keeps our marriage interesting.
 
oldman said:
I really enjoy hanging out at the airport one or two days a week. Sometimes I even hop on a plane to Chicago or Atlanta, have lunch and fly home. Just depends on my mood. I once called my wife and asked her to guess where I was, she asked where? I told her Las Vegas. She said that I didn’t even pack a bag. So what? I can buy what I need in the lobby at Caesar’s or the Venetian. I have done that more than once. My wife claims it’s what keeps our marriage interesting.
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I love that. I have also been on several trips by myself. I went on a Caribbean cruise in March and I will be going to Alaska in early August. I'm retired but my partner still works.

I'm sure you and your wife are very independent souls. Being independent and not relying on each other for happiness really helps a relationship.
 
I listen to audiobooks when engaged in mundane tasks, like folding clothes or doing other chores around the house. It actually makes them enjoyable to the extent that I look forward to the opportunity to get back to my books by doing those chores.

I have a hard time just sitting down and listening to audiobooks, though. It feels like I'm not really doing anything, as apposed to reading books, which feels like I'm doing something constructive and productive. Because of a stigmatism (or an astigmatism, depending on your preference), I have trouble reading for longer than ten minutes or so. I get tired. It's almost like work, which is why I never read much when I was younger. It was just no fun and I hardly ever finished a book. With audiobooks, I'm getting through a book a week.

I've been working on Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment for over a month now, though. That's a tough one to get through. I don't really get the appeal. It's considered "great" literature, but like a lot of "great" literature, I just don't see it. One day, I'll finish it, I guess. Some day. I tend to prefer non-fiction.
 
SeniorBen said:
I listen to audiobooks when engaged in mundane tasks, like folding clothes or doing other chores around the house. It actually makes them enjoyable to the extent that I look forward to the opportunity to get back to my books by doing those chores.

I have a hard time just sitting down and listening to audiobooks, though. It feels like I'm not really doing anything, as apposed to reading books, which feels like I'm doing something constructive and productive. Because of a stigmatism (or an astigmatism, depending on your preference), I have trouble reading for longer than ten minutes or so. I get tired. It's almost like work, which is why I never read much when I was younger. It was just no fun and I hardly ever finished a book. With audiobooks, I'm getting through a book a week.

I've been working on Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment for over a month now, though. That's a tough one to get through. I don't really get the appeal. It's considered "great" literature, but like a lot of "great" literature, I just don't see it. One day, I'll finish it, I guess. Some day. I tend to prefer non-fiction.
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I haven’t tried any of Dostoyecsky’s work on audiobooks but I can certainly relate to your reaction… when I read “the Brothers Karamazov” I came away feeling like ‘what was that all about?’

On the positive side I can definitely recommend the audio version of “Middlemarch” read by Julia Stevenson— she really brings out the struggles of the characters, their foibles and even the subtle comedy of their dialogue and interactions. It’s quite brilliant 😊
 
dseag2 said:
I've found since I've retired that I'm much more attuned to what is happening in the world. That's not such a good thing since the news is usually so depressing. I am empathetic to what is happening in places like Ukraine and have donated to World Central Kitchen, but I can't take a steady diet of negative news. I listen to enough news so I know what may affect my life in the future.

How do you escape from everyday life?

I fast forward through the news. There is nothing I can do about all the recent shootings so I skip through them. No one does anything and there are always "thoughts and prayers". I could care less about Elon Musk's recent bid for Twitter so that one goes on fast forward as well.

I do watch some of the late-night talk shows because they present the news in a comedic manner. I always need one good drama (we are watching The Flight Attendant) to totally take me away from my everyday existence. Even crime dramas on ID and Oxygen, as heinous as they are, take me away from the everyday world.

The last would be visits to the gym almost every day. I find that exercise and music improves my mental health.

What do you all do to escape from your everyday lives?
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took me a couple of months, but I really can no longer read the news about Ukraine. Just too upsetting. Right in the beginning we made a small donation to the Red Cross.

I really just can't bear the thought of all those children and older folks dying for no reason.
 
so, I do meditation. I do some Hatha Yoga relaxation exercises. My wife and I watch these nature relaxation videos, we like them.

I like Gregorian Chant, I find that relaxing, other music, mellow music.

Right now, I am trying to watch less news. Just can't take it.

Spend a lot of time with the cats. Literally. Find them so relaxing.

Comedy videos, helps take off the edge.

And keeping busy, generally.

Now, here's a weird thing. For some reason, when I watch a movie that has supernatural elements...even like a Superman movie, it somehow is a bigger escape that just any old movie. Not a horror movie though. Just a movie, oh, like Teen Wolf with Michael J. Fox...something like that.

Maybe it is that those things are not this world...and it takes you to another world, even if fiction?

Not sure why, but it helps me.
 
SeniorBen said:
I listen to audiobooks when engaged in mundane tasks, like folding clothes or doing other chores around the house. It actually makes them enjoyable to the extent that I look forward to the opportunity to get back to my books by doing those chores.

I have a hard time just sitting down and listening to audiobooks, though. It feels like I'm not really doing anything, as apposed to reading books, which feels like I'm doing something constructive and productive. Because of a stigmatism (or an astigmatism, depending on your preference), I have trouble reading for longer than ten minutes or so. I get tired. It's almost like work, which is why I never read much when I was younger. It was just no fun and I hardly ever finished a book. With audiobooks, I'm getting through a book a week.

s conI've been working on Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment for over a month now, though. That's a tough one to get through. I don't really get the appeal. It'sidered "great" literature, but like a lot of "great" literature, I just don't see it. One day, I'll finish it, I guess. Some day. I tend to prefer non-fiction.
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That reminds me of the movie Reds. It was 4 hours long and we kept waiting for something to get interested in and it never happened.
 
Chet said:
That reminds me of the movie Reds. It was 4 hours long and we kept waiting for something to get interested in and it never happened.
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I remember watching Reds maybe back in the '80s and not being enamored with it, to put it mildly. It was just a long, pretentious soap opera from what I remember.
 
bowmore said:
We just made a "sea change" in our lives. We were living in a +55 mobile home park, and we saw a new apartment development down by the ocean. We fell in love with it and are living there now.
Yesterday we went back to our old place to download some data from our computer. Upon driving out, the place looked like a ghost town, with nobody out and about. In our new home, we can look out and see all manner of people, especially down by the ocean. The view of the Channel Islands is also changing daily.
We feel renewed, at peace, and @Kayelle's depression over the pandemic has lifted. She sis waving from over my shoulder.
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Hi everyone!
Now my avatar and signature are really suitable, and this is where my heart has always been. I'm at peace with this particular view of the beach where I was raised. I'm blooming again where I was planted.
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JonSR77 said:
I like Gregorian Chant, I find that relaxing, other music, mellow music.
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I thought I was the only person here who listens to and enjoys Gregorian Chant. You're right. It is relaxing.

Funny thing, Whatsisname, the Father of My Children, spent a good bit of time (years) in the seminary and was required to study Latin and Greek, along with Gregorian Chant. After he left the seminary and enrolled at NMSU, he was denied credit for two years each of Latin and Greek but given music credit for a year of Gregorian Chant. Huh?🎵
 
dseag2 said:
How do you escape from everyday life?

The last would be visits to the gym almost every day. I find that exercise and music improves my mental health.
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About the news: It's important to know what's going on and why, but so many people(particularly seniors) absolutely poison themselves, especially those that bombard their minds with the slanted, tailor-made 'news' offerings. :rolleyes:

The gym! Not only does physical movement improve your body's fitness, it has a super positive uplift as well. Not to mention the social interaction,so important to seniors. :);):cool:
 
I don't even try to escape it; it is life. but I do have many interests to occupy my mind. I love to read, watch TV - I play the violin and the banjo - take my little Yorkie for walks daily. I also do a variety of exercises here at home. Not ready to go out in public yet tho I do have a gym membership. My daughter, grandson and great grandson live with me so I don't lack for company and, of course there's housework which I share with my daughter. I took TaeKwondo until about three years ago (made it up to third degree Black Belt) when I developed an uncooperative hip from an injury - forced me to withdraw. I'm now taking Tai Chi.
 
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