When I sent my friend Perry a picture of my new tea mug, she responded with a picture of her favourite coffee mug with a little story about why she loves it so much. The same day, another friend, Gail, sent me a picture of a large new teapot she’d just bought that she loved. The fact that we appreciate these little things enough to share pictures of them with our friends reminds me of how much enjoyment we can derive from simple pleasures.

I was thrilled when I opened the box with my new enormous 19.5 oz. bone china McIntosh tea mug (twice the size of a normal mug) imprinted with a painting by Gustav Klimt. Even the glossy artwork on the lid of the box was special. I enjoy drinking tea and have a little electric mug warmer on my desk for when I’m working on my BoomerBroadcast blogs. There’s another one beside my La-Z-girl chair for when I’m watching television in the evenings with my little Yorkie curled up asleep in my lap. Simple pleasures.

The loaf of bread I made from scratch recently was extremely satisfying. In my seventy-seven years on this planet, I’d never made one from scratch before, without using my bread machine. This is particularly significant because I have basically lost all interest in cooking and baking as I’ve aged so making the bread was a bit of a revival.

Reading downloaded library books gives me pleasure in ways other book lovers will totally understand. Through books we can travel anywhere in the world the story takes us, experience mysteries, thrills, romances, awakenings, and no end of learning opportunities. It amazes me that we have access to so much wonderful literature absolutely free through our local libraries. These are also small but lovely pleasures.

Unfortunately, so many people today equate pleasure and happiness with acquiring flashy consumer goods. Sure, we all love our purchases, whether it’s a new car, a new handbag, or a new lipstick. Some people mistakenly think that the acquisition of luxury items will bring happiness but it doesn’t work that way. I look forward to my $1.50 hot dog and Diet Coke when I go shopping at Costco. And, there’s nothing like a large Timmie’s steeped tea with milk and a peanut butter cookie to fuel my way on a car trip. Who needs expensive restaurants with heart-stopping prices?

Hubby and I love hunkering down once a week to watch Real Time With Bill Maher on HBO. I also have a perverse addiction to The Social even though many of their topics for discussion are of no interest to me. Some people get the same satisfaction from watching Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune—brain candy. I’m willing to endure the boring celebrity gossip on The Social in return for the great pieces they do on a wide range of topics from Alzheimer’s disease and wellness issues to money management. Andrea Bain’s acerbic points of view always surprise me and are guaranteed to make me chuckle.

Even though movies that appeal to baby boomers are rare to non-existent these days, when I get the opportunity to see something wonderful like Lee with Kate Winslet, or anything with Jason Bateman or Liam Neeson, I settle down in my high-backed theatre seat with a bucket of popcorn wedged between my knees and my pail full of Diet Coke savouring every delicious minute of the experience.

We have a highly-anticipated girls’ outing planned in a couple of weeks to see the new Bridget Jones movie which we hope will deliver as much fun as last year’s Barbie experience. The recent Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown was somewhat interesting and a must-see since movies that appeal to boomers are as rare as a new release by The Beatles. Even though I enjoyed the popcorn and Coke more than the actual movie, it was still a simple pleasure.

I love my girls’ lunches, my red SMEG electric kettle, Yorkshire Gold tea in my Gustav Klimt china mug, Ghirardelli premium chocolate squares, and an old-fashioned turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy. Carrot cake with walnuts and cream cheese icing is a source of supreme pleasure, particularly if it’s homemade.

I love sitting at my laptop composing new pieces for BoomerBroadcast. Reading downloaded books from the library provides me with an endless supply of free material—enough to last me the rest of my life. My ice-cream habit has reached dangerous levels and I’ve been forced to rein it in but it’s a low-cost indulgence that ranks pretty high on my pleasure scale.

My circle of friends is one of my most precious pleasures and as we age we increasingly appreciate their value in our lives. My little Yorkie is one of my most lovable indulgences. Pet owners understand why. I also love toast. If it’s ever declared an all-inclusive health food I plan to eat it almost exclusively every day for the rest of my life, smothered with Bonne Maman thick raspberry jam.

Simple pleasures make life worth living. They’re accessible, affordable, and guaranteed to lift our spirits. Sometimes we need to be reminded to slow down, turn off the news on television, close our eyes, enjoy a walk in the warm sun and fresh air, and appreciate life’s abundant little gifts. Many of my friends get together for board and card games or to do crafts. I love having a cup of tea with my friends, especially Terry who coincidently also loves to bake. We appreciate having the time to indulge in our hobbies now that we’re retired. What are your simple pleasures?

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