I bought another Forester after test driving the Outback, only because I prefer to sit higher. I big puffy heart Subarus. Mine gets pretty good gas mileage (in the summer I can get over 40mph) and everyone who has been in it thinks it's very comfortable. Outbacks are extremely common here--well, all Subarus are given our climate and terrain, but I think especially the Outback. Everyone from teens to great grandparents drive them. They last forever!

Alternatively, drivers need to get a clue that roads are multi use and that pedestrians have rights too. A driver who hits a pedestrian/cyclist also "loses"-- can you imagine living with that guilt?!? That's why we are all shaken up when it *almost* happens, because of the severity of the risk.

Idk, the windows/widshields always seemed similar to my '98 Subaru and that had fantastic visibility. New cars have smaller windows so we have to rely more on technology to help us know what's around us, but those old cars--especially in those two brands--were known for safety even back in the day. I like my newer Subaru but it doesn't compare. I much preferred my old style (except the seat heaters, I do enjoy having seat heaters lol)

Yep, my '98 Subaru was bombproof. I loved that car--visibility was *awesome* and she was built to be the boss of weather and bad roads. I actually cried when I had to let her go. I still see those gorgeous old Volvos around here now and again--mmm, I can just smell the fake leather baking in the sun, lol. I sure wish they'd make them like that again (safety improvements yeah yeah), those were incredible cars.

Same. I was already hesitant of a Prius because nearly every single one I see is bashed in or has scrapes along the sides, so I figured they have terrible sight lines. Even sitting in one in the parking lot confirmed it. I'm extra careful around them because I figure they can't see me, whether I'm walking or driving (or heaven forbid on a bike).

Other than dinner, I eat just about the same things every day. Breakfast: smoothie (either blueberries, pumpkin or spinach) lunch: low carb tortilla with an egg, cheese and kimchi, side of fruit if I'm still hungry Snack: chocolate and nuts Dinner: I just don't care any more, anything is fine DH is currently out of town so I'll pick up takeaway Chinese, which last me several nights. Perfect.

Idk but my cats would ripped that apart and devoured the sausage and plastic in no time flat. Food fairies beware. 🧚‍♂️

Scrub daddies (stupid name) with a handle. I don't like to touch wet things so dishcloths are a hard no for me. Also they work really really well.

I get it. I'm sorry I sounded jaded and snarky, truly. I do a lot to minimize my impact too, I think I'm just less hopeful these days.

I've stopped worrying about this kind of thing, honestly. Whatever might come off my cutting board isn't even a tiny fraction of the pollutants we are all marinating in and ingesting every day. Nothing we do at home will change the metrics in our favor. Sorry, not trying to minimize concerns, I'm just tired of pretending we as individuals can make any sort of meaningful difference.

Well idk. High street runs from Old Worthington all the way to German Village--a distance of several miles, and is entirely lined with old walkable neighborhoods connected by busses. Indianola and 4th St were well serviced too as I recall; I certainly didn't have any problem when I lived in both Clintonville and in the Short North. Everything I'd consider necessary and fun was along that corridor anyway. Sure, if you want to go the suburbs it's harder and that's a shame, but everywhere I went for work, play, shopping, parks, etc was all right there. Of course, I chose to live in the center, which isn't everyone's interest. No doubt there needs to be public transport everywhere, but I personally loved how little we needed to drive in Columbus. I'll always advocate for --and vote for and be happy to help pay for--more trains and streetcars pretty much everywhere though. 🙂

They seemed so close to putting streetcars back in, and then Covid hit, or maybe it was an economic downturn? I can't remember but it seems dead now. Boo. Such a shame, it's a perfect streetcar city--and a lot of tracks are still there!

That should be criminal 😞

2 ancient bamboo boards from IKEA about a thousand years ago, and a small recycled plastic one nearly that old. I put them all in the dishwasher.

Gross! I've never heard of them or seen anything like it. I won't be looking closely! 😳

I lived there for many years without a car. 🤷‍♀️ The bus system was terrific along the high street corridor, otherwise much less so. But it's a city full of walkable neighborhoods and areas where everything can easily be done without a car. Our experiences are very different, lol!

I didn't have a car until I was almost 30. I just took the bus/subway/public transport and walked or rode my bike. DH had one though. I don't *need* a car where we currently live, lots of people get around by bike (all year, even here in Maine). We are actively trying to decide when to go down to one car, probably when we go electric. Right now both cars are relatively new and paid off so we're not sure it makes sense.

I didn't/ haven't tried.

Wait, what does this mean? I spent every moment I could in SF when I was growing up and went to college there. At the time I thought *for sure* I'd live forever in the City. Of course, I moved far away and now I'm STUNNED by how much it's changed (for the worse, IMO, on so many levels) but I'm curious what this comment is referring to?

~25 years ago DH and I lived in St Paul for a good number of years. We LOVED it, and it's one of those places I'd consider moving back to if we had to leave where we are. It's true *in some areas* people were somewhat suspicious of us as outsiders, but I'm sure that's completely changed since then. Also, the cities are quite different, St Paul being quieter and more neighbourhoody maybe, and Minneapolis offering more of an urban vibe (but still with awesome neighborhoods), or at least that's how it used to be. The outdoors around the Twin Cities is so accessible, and throughout the state it's so diverse. Our favourite spots were up on the North Shore of Lake Superior, just amazing. I'd love to go back and see how Duluth has "grown up"; we spent a lot of time there. I'd personally put Minnesota high on my list to check out if you've not spent time there. Ugh, I miss it now! FWIW Austria is quite conservative and Portugal is very poor by US (and most European) standards. Lovely to visit, but that doesn't necessarily make for good living.

We play this game sometimes but it's always tough. I love love big puffy heart love where we live. Outside the US: The Netherlands or Ireland Within the US: This one's hard. We've lived lots of places I've loved, but idk if I'd want to go back. Corvallis, Oregon maybe (but fires). Similar vibe to where we live now. Western Massachusetts maybe, like Northampton. Not too different from where live now, but farther from the ocean. Idk past that. Requirements are must be bright blue, and in a blue state and not be in the south (like south of Massachusetts). On or near an ocean, preferably a college town, and not much extreme weather. Snow is obviously fine, extreme heat is definitely out. Ideally connected by good public transport, but I'll reserve that for overseas options for obvious reasons.

We use ATT and I have the SOS message. I was just wondering what it's for and how long it had been there. I figured it was from an update but I guess not?

I did too! My skin is fiercely itchy this winter and my go to isn't cutting it. I nominate @Corraleno as the official Hive beauty and skin consultant 🙂

Yep. Mine was full blown, and coincided with lots of self realisations about marriage, patriarchy and sexuality. For extra fun I simultaneously fell into a deep depression, realised my family history of neurodivergency didn't actually skip over me and likely manifests in my quirks, crippling social anxiety and lifelong masking, and my anxiety leapt several notches and introduced me to massive, uncontrollable panic attacks. All kinds of peri/menopause symptoms came roaring into my life as well, including a deeply seething and explosive anger directed at nearly everything and everyone except my cats. They alone are the reason I didn't walk out of my home and life. I am now properly medicated and on the other side, but to say it's been a rough few years is an understatement. I truly didn't think I'd make it out, and I'm still not convinced I'm just in a lull of temporary peace.

You might ask your doctor to check your thyroid, too. It can cause all kinds of wonky effects if not working properly. FYI Hormone testing is useless to determine peri, literally the only thing to go by are symptoms which are many and varied, and almost none of them are widely talked about (like anxiety).