Leaning into it is kind of funny but yeah it makes sense, gives you a sense of control.

Mostly what I do is exercise though - I run it off physically, that helps so much.

Ha, same. I have always called it "minority attractive" because most guys would not be into me, but there is an enthusiastic subset who are.

I don't think I was ever ugly enough to lose the beauty privilege though, if that makes sense. The bar is not set that high. What I am now is older, though, which starts to work the same way. It gets more difficult to get hired, people don't see you as much. Lower on the totem pole of priority. I'm ok with it, had sort of a duck-to-swan progression already, back to duck is ok.

Age laws (children have developing brains and are not assumed to be able to legally consent)

Right to treatment for addiction.

Right to know what substance you are using (free of contamination, if it's cut the carrier substance should be disclosed)

Prohibition on operating heavy equipment or weapons while high.

I think that about covers it for me.

I chunk it, don't think of it a a project just an ongoing work.

So for example we are renovating the half bathroom but it is necessarily a slow project. I need to:

Clear the closet space we are opening up, which required:

2 outdoor storage units (one done one pending)

Relocating the indoor stuff to other spaces (done)

Painting (also done in steps, there are a bunch of splotches painted on one wall from testing colors - chose now but need to buy the gallon of it)

New cabinet in that closet (purchased and sitting in boxes will assemble after painting)

Move cat box into former closet space (done)

I am just doing what I can when I can, not letting go of it.

Also I want to whine a little - most of the work in life isn't something that's ever finished. Getting to be Done is sort of a imaginary idea. It's never going to be done. I feel so sexist about it, too, probably falsely but my impression is historically men get to work on projects and then rest on their laurels, women do the ongoing maintenance afterwards because it's not actually done but something that needs to be maintained. Like "here, I have built you a house! I am done!" But then someone else has to do the endless ongoing work of maintaining it.

So I honestly don't really ever think something is done, and am sort of at ease with that.

I would go with the second part of your message here and skip it UNLESS you are having symptoms and think there is really something the scans missed.

I actually had an incidental scan, was getting a "Coronary Artery Scan" because I've had always high cholesterol - it came back perfect, no buildup but they found benign little masses in my liver - doctor says absolutely normal and I understand why they would look (free knowledge for me) but I think I would be a little better off not knowing that.

The website The Perfect Loaf has been a big help. His recipes look funny but it is because he's using bakers %, you don't need to be that precise.

The book Tartine Bread also helped me get better at making bread.

If you have a robust starter, sourdough is so much easier and more forgiving than a dough made with commercial yeast.

A friendship is a very valuable relationship, though. I am in nonsexual friendship with other people and those connections are so important. I do think if you are looking for intimate nonsexual relationships with women that is harder, your dating pool will be small. Unless you like sex enough to enjoy pleasing someone else, that would probably expand it some.

As to what you'd be doing, whatever you want I guess! If you can wrap your head around what you would want, maybe you will find it. At least you aren't trying to change yourself to try to fit in, that's good.

My husband can do that, and honestly I think it's because he doesn't sleep deeply enough, and gets up too early. So exhaustion works.

I fall asleep in a reasonable amount of time (satisfied with it) and exercise is the main thing I can tell helps me. Next most important I wait until I am actually sleepy before trying to sleep. Smaller factors but still helpful - progesterone (post menopause) before bed, putting down the phone an hour before bed, and a routine - I take a shower & do skincare.

Yes I knew a Greek girl with blonde & curly hair. Not bottle blond, she had naturally golden hair even as an adult. Obviously she was not an ancient Greek, but was from Greece.

I do a lot of gardening and cooking.

Sourdough bread is probably my favorite because it still blows my mind that flour, water, and salt are the only inputs and can deliver a loaf I could sell for $8-10. Literally some of the best bread I've ever eaten, and there is no reason it should even work.

Gardening is sometimes magical and sometimes tragically frustrating.

Yoga I value because it keeps my body and mind in good shape.

Language. I would always choose language. That can unlock the other two.

https://www.deseret.com/1991/7/19/18931619/florida-couple-arrested-after-a-neighbor-tapes-sex-act-through-window/

Local couple here got arrested when their neighbor taped them having sex. Yes, you read that right. Not the peeping tom. The victims of the voyeur were arrested.