skip to main content

The Kitchen Table

What]don't you have that others your age do?

3 years ago

Me

debit card

no fancy phone

kindle

How about you?

Featured Answer

seniorgal

3 years ago

Dementia-- at least not yet!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (54)

LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
3 years ago
grandkids
lindaohnowga
3 years ago
my hubby

dentures

eye glasses

debit card

wifi

smart phone

kindle

laptop

ability to walk very far

ability to drive

television
Related Discussions
What do you have that you don't water? (not roses)
Q
Comments (17)
Redsox, in case right now you want to read about different kinds of plants and plan out your beds so they will look like what you want them to, you might be interested in some perennial design books. One I like is "The Perennial Gardener's Design Primer" by Cohen and Ondra. I read it in the library and then bought a used copy online through Amazon. the information is realistic, I think. Also, a book I love is "The Well Tended Perennial Garden" - she tells you how to maintain and prune those perennials you wind up buying. The Southern Living Garden Book gives a run down on almost every plant that will grow in the south. I bought this one used too and refer to it often. You've gotten some great advice on plants, but if you're like me, you only have so much money to spend and will want to invest it in what will give you pleasure. I always like to know what I'm getting before I buy it. Good luck, and your babies will grow up too soon and then you'll be able to garden a lot more. In the meantime, I applaud your gardening at all; mine were a mess when my kids were little. Also, if there's any kind of garden club in your area, there will be a lot of old ladies like me who will love to help you get started and give you some plants from their yard.
...See More
Ladies, do you enter your house with subs you don't know?
Q
Comments (38)
saskatchewan, I got a better one. I had a drywall crew once who also owned a drywall delivery service. These guys were all from the same family, all ex-marines, and all were ex-professional 'wrestlers'. They were huge. I'm not small, but I'd get a crick in my neck looking up at them. 'Baby', the smallest, was 6' 5" tall and weighed in at 300 pounds; all muscle, no fat. Heck, even their grandfather, who made Jack Palance look like a floozy, worked on the jobs. When they drywalled a house, the crew would come out the night before to verify all the measurements, discuss any issues, problems, difficult areas, plan out their attack; and then....the next day they'd drywall and finish the house. All within 48 hours from bringing in the drywall to perfection. In 2001, I was building a house in what was an old cornfield. It was the old hunting grounds of this one guy, who every night, tooted by and screamed obscenities at us while we were doing F and F (foundation and framing), because it was his old (illegal), hunting grounds, and we ruined it. He drove this old, nasty pickup that had a beer can muffler and relied on grace, rather than mechanics, to make it run. He'd slow down, scream a drunken slur or two, then carefully rev it up and take off down the road. Well, I was standing out there with my drywall crew of huge ex-marines and WWF wrestlers, discussing the merits of Grabber vs. McFeely's drywall screws, when he went by one evening, and leaned out the window and yelled "You #######! If I had a liddle mur time, I'd kick evury one of yur azzes!" He must have had that extra, additional shot of encouragement at the Hilltop Tavern, because he also gave us a big long....er...."number 1 salute" with his middle finger. Then he gave that ol' truck just a little 'too' much gas, and stalled it. Right there on the road in front of little ol' me and five men who might have been extras in the movie '300'. I don't believe I've ever seen a more panicked look on a person's face at that moment, when the five drywall guys started to move towards his truck, one of them saying "what did you say......?"
...See More
If you don't have zucchini, you don't have friends
Q
Comments (39)
This one was on the table at a book club potluck last week. Everyone raved and wanted the recipe. I'm going to cross post in new recipes. Zucchini Pickles - Heidi Swanson, 100 Cookbooks There are quite a number of ways to play around with the personality of these pickles. Sometimes I shave the zucchini paper-thin, resulting in a whispy tangle of pickled zucchini and onions. Other times I want my pickles to have a bit more bite, structure, and definition. In those instances, I slice the zucchini thicker, perhaps 1/8-inch, and let them drain as long as possible, sometimes overnight refrigerated. Also worth noting, when I make them for our personal condiment stash, I used a brown natural cane sugar. It gives the pickle liquid a brownish cast that, quite frankly, weirds people out if they don't know what is causing it. So, if I'm making the pickles to bring to a BBQ or something, I'll make them with regular organic cane sugar - one that is lighter in color.  3 medium zucchini (1 pound / 16 oz / 450 g), thinly sliced  1 medium white onion, thinly sliced  3 shallots, thinly sliced 1 1/2 tablespoons fine grain sea salt  1/4 cup (small handful) fresh dill sprigs 1 small fresh red chile pepper, very thinly sliced 1/2 tablespoon yellow mustard seeds 3/4 cup / 180 ml cider vinegar  3/4 cup / 180 ml white wine vinegar  1/3 cup / 1.75 oz / 50g natural cane sugar  Toss the zucchini, onion, shallots, and salt together in a colander and place over a bowl to catch the liquids. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least a couple hours. Toss once or twice along the way. You're aiming to get as much liquid out of the zucchini as possible.  When you're finished draining the zucchini, shake off any water. At this point you want the zucchini as dry as possible. Place in a 1 liter / 1 quart jar along with the dill, chile pepper, and mustard seeds. Alternately, you can cram them into a 3/4 liter Weck jar like I do, but it's always a bit snug in the jar. Combine the ciders and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves, and continue to boil for a few minutes. Pour the liquid over the zucchini and seal the jar. Let cool, then refrigerate. The pickles are good for a week or so.   Makes one large jar. Prep time: 120 min - Cook time: 5 min Here is a link that might be useful: Quick pickled zucchini
...See More
If you don't have a pantry, where do you put stuff?
Q
Comments (7)
Some things I want to keep but have no where to put them are the big Wilton novelty cake pans & cookie racks. If they're not too tall they could go into underbed boxes, either the kind on wheels or just the ordinary cardboard kind. I'm a big believer in using the wasted space under the bed! They also are unlikely to be harmed by attic heat. Otherwise, think really, REALLY hard about just how much are you going to use every one of these pans? Can you pare down your collection? Is making novelty cakes and cookies a frequent hobby or a small business, or are these the sorts of things you only do once in a while? I'm a cookery nut too and I found it hard as hell to weed down my collection of goodies and gadgets before our move last September but I'm not so good at bending the time-space continuum to create storage space where there isn't any. Trust me, it was a wrench to put those adorable heart-shaped miniature springform pans in the donation box because I remembered the expressions of delight when I produced miniature heart-shaped cheesecakes for someone, but we just didn't use them enough to justify the space they occupied. Do you use all three ice chests so often that you need to keep three of them on hand at all times, or is there someone you could give, say, two of them to who would let you borrow them back when you need them? The ironing board. Right now it is behind my bedroom door. We had another ironing board - one of those short over the door things in a closet. Slide it flat underneath a bed or hang it neatly behind the door on the wall on an ironing board rack, or move the over-the-door one to the back of a bedroom door. There are also attractive ironing board cabinets that mount onto or even recess into the wall between the studs, and some can even be electrified so you can plug the iron in right there. I am assuming you prefer to iron in the bedroom instead of in the laundry room (you couldn't FIT an ironing board in our laundry room anyway!). The upright vacuum. This is a necessary thing and I won't be putting it in the attic. I just don't have anywhere to put it except a closet shoved between the hanging clothes. A closet is fine but organize the closet floor (shoe storage, blah blah) so that you can slip it into a corner rather than just shoving it in the middle of the clothes. If you've got a spare $400 floating around (BWAHAHAHAHAHA - who does?) the Dyson DC24 upright vacuum does compact down quite small although in this house the jury's still out as to whether it really stands up to all the hype. The printer for my laptop. Right now it's in the kitchen next to the peninsula where I usually do my work. Is there a chance of a wireless connection between laptop and printer? There are SO many gadgets now that let you print without being physically connected to the printer, and then you can put the printer wherever you can conveniently tuck it away (say an end table with a door where you could drill a small hole in the back for the power cord) without worrying about having to be able to hitch up that printer cable. If you're not technologically adept, there are any number of "rent-a-geek" services to help you. Luggage. Right now in the floor of the closet, but I'd like to keep stuff off the floor so it's easier to vacuum and looks bigger. Attic. Get bags of cedar shavings from the pet department at Walmart or whatever, punch a bunch of holes in each bag, and put them into old pillowcases, then put THAT into each suitcase. The cedar shavings will keep bugs and critters from taking up residence in them, absorb any moisture to prevent mold, and keep them from smelling musty. Or under beds if they'll fit, in which case you can fill them with other things. Make the adult kids (if they're old enough for apartments, furnished or no, they're adults in my book) responsible for their belongings - you are not running a storage facility or dumping ground for their stuff, you have enough stuff of your own. Maybe they can pool their funds for a storage unit; I could see their weeding out their belongings, selling some on CL, eBay, or at a yard sale to raise the money to pay at least part of the storage fees on the things they absolutely cannot part with. I downsized by 40% last year and had to be absolutely brutal about what came along with us and what had to go. We took several station-wagon-loads to Goodwill, and then about six months after we moved we had another "WHY did we move this?" purge and took another two station-wagon-loads out. You have to be kind of heartless... most of what we got rid of was stuff that other people had given us and we - okay, I - had to get over a good bit of guilt about giving it the heave-ho.
...See More
wildchild2x2
3 years ago
Loss of height.

Bad joints or thinning bones.

Deep wrinkles.

Shoes or sneakers designated as walking footwear.

A fit bit or any other step tracker.
nicole___
3 years ago
Debit card, cell phone, kindle, ring doorbell, cable, Netflix, sports car, a dog, children, projection TV...
lucillle
3 years ago
Husband
nickel_kg
3 years ago
Alexa or similar -- perhaps someday if eyesight or fingers become impaired I'll join the voice-activated crowd but no thanks for now

Cats - not everyone has cat(s) but I so wish I wasn't allergic. Even our current two dogs like cats.
marilyn_c
3 years ago
Grandkids

Credit card

Fancy cell phone

Fancy house

New or newish vehicle

Debt
Elizabeth
3 years ago
Any disablities. for which I am grateful every day
eld6161
3 years ago
Limited medication, many my age have a laundry list

Grandkids
Kathsgrdn
3 years ago
New car every other year. Mine is a 2008. I'm keeping it till it dies or the heated seats give out.

A husband

The newest Iphone (never had one and wouldn't ever buy one)

an expensive designer dog (I have a lot of issues with this)

grandchildren (I do have a granddog and almost grandcat)
tvq1
3 years ago
I certainly don't own a pair of white walking shoes!

I don't need reading glasses

I don't have dentures or partials

Sadly, no grandkids. And not likely at all to have any. ;{
Rose Pekelnicky
3 years ago
I am 71. I too no longer have my husband :(. I also don't have any physical ailments other than copd from smoking for many years. It doesn't bother me much though and I don't use any medication for it. As for the electronics, I have no Alexa device and no Fitbit device
cooper8828
3 years ago
A desire to go shopping for fun.
jim_1 (Zone 5B)
3 years ago
A snow shovel
jerseygirl07603 z6NJ
3 years ago
Husband

Vacation home at the beach

Grandkids
Zalco/bring back Sophie!
3 years ago
Botox or fillers
blfenton
3 years ago
vacations (excluding this year)

sore back/ knees/ shoulders

grandkids
Alisande
3 years ago
Prescriptions to take on a regular basis

A Consumer Cellular account (if we can believe the TV ads)

No debit card or cable TV ever

Apple products

I don't know of anyone my age (77) who has Alexa, but I do. I love it.
User
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
A dislike of cold and snow. I go with the flow and enjoy every day that I’m alive. If I can’t golf or garden, I bundle up and go for a walk, or ski, or skate, or ice fish....
OutsidePlaying
3 years ago
no major physical ailments

no big loss of muscle tone

no cat

no deep wrinkles

Don’t have a lot of gray hair

no debt

Jim, that’s funny. I’ve never owned a snow shovel and don’t ever intend to buy one.
Rusty
3 years ago
Probably a lot of things, many of which I am very thankful not to have.

Rusty
samkarenorkaren
3 years ago
A love life

A social life

ATM card

Twitter account

Patience

A watch

A condo (hoping soon though)

Kids
yeonassky
3 years ago
I'm the same as many of you though I do like my cell phone and debit card.

I don't have and many of my peers do have/need:

Body pains

Prescription medications

Alexa type products

New car

Apple products

Dislike of snow/rain

Savings/owned home/retirement income

Me too; no now or future grandkids

Sleep disorder including sleep apnea

(Nearly everyone I know has sleep apnea.)

Cosmetic surgery or Botox
Elmer J Fudd
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I sense an aversion that I don't understand, that some of you seem to express, concerning smartphones, debt and debit/credit/ATM cards.

Or am I misunderstanding the sentiments expressed?
Alisande
3 years ago
Elmer, I think you're misunderstanding some of them, but probably not all. The fact that we don't have something doesn't necessarily mean we're averse to it. For example, if cable TV had been available where I live when I was raising my kids, I'm sure I would have gotten it. But it wasn't, so I never missed it.

I think others will agree that with many of the items there was no aversion involved; we're just content without them--or, in the case of physical ailments or prescription meds, grateful we don't have them.
blfenton
3 years ago
I have a debit card and a credit card. I never use the debit card because I would rather keep my money in the bank as long as possible (to earn basically 0% but ohwell) and I do get cash back at the end of the year with the credit card.

Up until September when our house burned down I had never had a cellphone. When I'm out and about I really don't want to be disturbed by my DH or kids or friends. I have one now out of necessity but I do leave it at home when I go out. I also detest paying that much for a phone. My landline was bundled with my cable and cost $15. and my cellphone is $45.

Elmer we all reasons for not having certain things.
Elmer J Fudd
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Sorry to hear about your house fire, I hope you're able to get your world back to normal in a reasonable time.

Yes, people often (not always) have reasons for what they do or don't do or have but they're not necessarily good ones. I was simply reflecting on what I sensed to be a surprising aversion to certain everyday things that so many people find to be useful to have.

Just as with the cell phone example - I carry it for me, not for others. When I don't want to get calls, I can turn it off or put it on airplane mode. It's there for my convenience and safety at all times. That's my spin, everyone can have their own. I find oftentimes people dislike or don't use tools when they don't know how to best use them. Nothing more.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years ago
I can't imagine my current life without a cell phone!! It goes everywhere with me. When out and about, I can easily ignore calls if I don't wish to answer them but as a single woman of advancing years, it is an absolute safety necessity to have that phone handy to call for help if and when needed.....car breakdown, if lost (no GPS in car) or if I encounter any personal difficulty. When I broke my ankle at the entry of my residence a few years ago, I was all by myself with no close neighbors and without my cell phone to call 911 for help, I could have laid there for hours!!

I even take my phone with me when I take my daily bath in case of any unforeseen issues with slipping or falling. It is my connection to the rest of the world!

I also would never be without my debit card, as I have no easy physical access to my bank and that's the way I access any cash needs.
maifleur03
3 years ago
I have wondered about the atm/debit card thing if the people do not have a bank account, tore up the debit card which is an atm card or do not understand what they have. Although my personal sample is small even the place I have a savings account with has sent me a debit card.

What I do not have is an older car that when something goes wrong and it will the repairs would cost as much as the car is worth.
Elmer J Fudd
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
gardengal - exactly. You get it.

You too, maifleur.
Bookwoman
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
No prescriptions. Almost no gray hair. No fine lines on my face (at last I'm thankful for oily skin!) No Facebook account. No grandchildren...yet. No pets.
dedtired
3 years ago
No debt, no grandchildren, no date for dinner
Michele
3 years ago
Here’s one that I’m getting and I like. Grey hair. It’s coming in just the way my mom’s did. A streak. At least it seems like it.

I don’t have any prescriptions I take regularly.

I like the smartphone. It’s a handy thing to have when out and about.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
3 years ago
I’ve had a debit card for decades. I don’t how you’d function without one. I rarely handle cash or visit a physical bank. I can’t remember the last time I was in one. That’s the norm here. My kids laugh at me for having money in my wallet at all. Many places don’t even accept cash since covid. I haven’t written a cheque in years. When I go out and don’t want to carry a bag I just take my card and my phone.

I don't have:

a car

a television

dyed hair

any medical issues

grandchildren
stacey_mb
3 years ago
Cell phone

Aches and pains

Difficulty sleeping

Pets, either dog or cat

Twitter account
beesneeds
3 years ago
Children

Divorce issues

Mortgage or rent payments

School or credit debt

A credit card or much a a credit score/history

Years ago there were fiscal problems, so out went the credit card use. Paid off the debts, which took more years. Through a lot of luck and planning got the house all paid for. Got a good car that does not have payments. Both my love and I had our first marriages young, and his kids are young adults now. Last few years have been just living off the money we make, no credit nothing. Paying the regular bills, and not making larger purchases that require installment payments. Being careful and frugal with what we got.

Most of the folks I know currently are still in the more swamped part with the debts and getting or paying for their homes and having car payments, student debt, getting married or divorced and those debts. A lot of people my age have older kids in school and college, and younger ones too.
Judy Good
3 years ago
Grandchildren and I love snow and the cold.
abbisgram
3 years ago
A job

Debt

Spouse

Disability

Health Issues
jemdandy
3 years ago
A grave. (I'm old)

Smart cell phone

More than one grandchild
maddielee
3 years ago
I don’t have fear of new things or learning of new ways of doing things.
bragu_DSM 5
3 years ago
anti depressants
kathyg_in_mi
3 years ago
A mortgage.
terilyn
3 years ago
Debt
sealavender
3 years ago
Thinning hair

Much dental work

Children or grandchildren

Health issues
Tonya Yoder
3 years ago
To each his or her own,we all don't agree on the same necessities,toys or whatever it may be.It's such a shame that some on here have to ALWAYS ridicule,correct and or try to act like their a professional at everything and a authority on every subject.
salonva
3 years ago
I found this thread interesting and maybe helpful in getting a perspective.

I didn't find it judgemental at all. I think most people are basically explaining why they feel something is important to them or not.

It started me thinking and I am fixating that I think I have no apple products at all. I did have an ipod way back when but I have not recollection of what happened to it. ( Uh oh.... can't remember!)
Elmer J Fudd
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
"I didn't find it judgemental at all. I think most people are basically explaining why they feel something is important to them or not."

Yes, of course. Sometimes some people fnd it necessary to lash out at others who may have something or know something they don't. To discredit the other person in their own mind. Call it a needless defense mechanism in situations when no defense is needed.
wildchild2x2
3 years ago
An AARP card or a roadside assistance like AAA.
Cherryfizz
3 years ago
Husband

Children

Grandchildren

Debt

Paid Television Service

Cell Phone Service - have Apple iPhone 6 but only use it on home Internet (personally don't feel the need to be connected when I leave the house) Use it mostly for taking pictures and videos

Car - never learned to drive

Prescription Meds

Related Stories

KITCHEN DESIGN 10 Ways to Design a Kitchen for Aging in Place

Design choices that prevent stooping, reaching and falling help keep the space safe and accessible as you get older

UNIVERSAL DESIGN 10 Questions to Ask Before Sharing Your Home With Aging Parents

By Laura Gaskill

Honest conversation is key to deciding whether it makes sense to have your parents move in with you

UNIVERSAL DESIGN 12 Must-Haves for Aging in Place

By Affecting Spaces Design Studio

Design a home that will continue to be accessible, safe and stylish as the years go by

UNIVERSAL DESIGN Smart Space-Sharing Options for Living With Aging Parents

By Laura Gaskill

Freestanding in-law unit or modified guest room? Consider your needs as well as your parents’ if they’re moving in

INSIDE HOUZZ Baby Boomers Are Making Remodeling Changes With Aging in Mind

By Erin Carlyle

Walk-in tubs, curbless showers and nonslip floors are popular features, the 2018 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study finds

BATHROOM DESIGN Bathroom of the Week: Master Bath Remade for Aging in Place

By Becky Harris

A designer helps a couple nearing retirement age turn a house into their forever home

INSIDE HOUZZ Baby Boomers Address Aging Needs in Kitchen Remodels

By Erin Carlyle

Their choices include open-plan designs and robust lighting systems, the 2019 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study finds

BATHROOM MAKEOVERS Reader Bathroom: $22,000 Remodel for Aging in Place in California

By Erin Carlyle

A 71-year-old prepares for the future by creating a bathroom that will work as she gets older — and be stylish as well as functional

UNIVERSAL DESIGN Is Your Home Accessible for Aging in Place?

By Laura Gaskill

Review our checklist to find out if your house will work for you and your family as you get older

UNIVERSAL DESIGN Aging-in-Place Resolutions for the New Year

By Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS, MCCWC

How to make your home help you age gracefully right where you are

Sponsored

Kuhns Contracting, Inc.

26 Reviews

Central Ohio's Trusted Home Remodeler Specializing in Kitchens & Baths

More Discussions

Oh no! Another one!

821

Can we start a Chain Reaction Game - Part 4

367

Diabetic cat.............

2

Smile today - 5/13/24

7

For those with little ones…..craft edition

9