Watching TV with my wife.

[Mr.Bill]

We are retired, so we spend a lot of time watching TV. When we get tired of the news, we watch mostly cooking shows, or home improvement shows.

We watch people remodel $500,000 homes and sit there and criticize some of the stuff they do...


As we sit in our 1977 single-wide mobile home.

[patphil]

1. Watching cooking or home improvement shows together? Jeez, that sounds familiar.

We also watch several series on Netflix and Amazon. There's a lot of really good ones out there.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. Here, Too!

We watch The Food Network together all the time.
We're not into home improvement shows, but the cooking shows? You bet!

[Karadeniz]

2. How about animal shows...nat. geo. channel is better than animal planet.

[Mr.Bill]

3. We record a lot of animal shows from PBS. n/t

[LakeArenal]

48. Definitely.

Still hooked on Caesar Milan.

Love the one where they pick dogs for people and they introduce them in a cute little cabin.

Amanda to the Rescue too.

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. Our nightly ritual is to watch two 30 minute episodes of anime every evening.

We have been doing it for years and I hope it doesn't stop any time soon.

[Duncanpup]

5. And you both are happy together

We just discovered our 2.5 year old golden retriever apparently loves horses on T.V. Son is watching the good the bad the ugly and pup takes notice when a horse is on.

In life he has seen horses and is like meh he’s hilarious tha pup all of our dogs have personalities.

[Mr.Bill]

6. Our dogs are completely oblivious to the TV.

At least visually, anyway. But if they hear a dog barking, they will bark back at it.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Our Dog Watches TV

Dogs, horses, the Geico lizard,.... Other animals fascinate him.
And, he watches football!
The little guys running around really catch his eye.

[Diamond_Dog]

11. My dog pays absolutely NO attention to the TV screen!

[ProfessorGAC]

14. You Just Can't Predict...

...what will interest.
Our doggie before last wouldn't even get interested in the red dot of a laser pointer!
Our friends dog would chase that thing forever.

[FB47243]

26. That's a fact

My dog is mesmerized by human xxx stuff.
I really don’t care at all for it but he insists.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

56. Othello likes watching animals on tv

Really likes seeing other cats. He's there for litter commercials ,cat food anytime a cat is there he pays attention. Also he watches me sitting on my lap when I scroll on tik tok because a lot of the things I watch are cat videos.

[Evolve Dammit]

23. same here

[Mr.Bill]

7. You need to watch Yellowstone.

Lots of horses on there.

[Diamond_Dog]

10. I would have to tie my husband down to watch a cooking show.

I know what you mean about the remodeling shows. Or the real estate shows where they complain about something so trivial. I was watching one where the prospective buyers were complaining about a bush next to the front door.

[LakeArenal]

41. I love the obvious dumb comments :

Is this the kitchen?

I like how you can see out the windows.

I once saw a man walk into a pink tiled bathroom and say, I feel my manhood draining away in here. 🙄

[Diamond_Dog]

62. Oh brother

[Different Drummer]

80. I saw one of those once where the prospective buyers were complaining about...

the shade of white on the walls of one of the house's rooms. Apparently, it wasn't the shade they preferred. If I'm remembering correctly, this was House Hunters on HGTV.

[Irish_Dem]

12. I criticize a $250,000 couture dress on TV and say I wouldn't be caught dead in it.

While I wait for my 30%-50% off Old Navy and Chico's coupons.

[Mr.Bill]

13. In many ways,

the simple life is better.

[Diamond_Dog]

15. 100% agree

[Irish_Dem]

17. Yes too many choices are nerve wracking I think.

[LakeArenal]

42. It took me two years to pick out a paint color for my living room.

I must have had 13 samples on the walls.

Too many choices.

[Irish_Dem]

72. That's me.

I can usually narrow things down.

But then I cannot decide on the remaining three or four colors.
Then the samples are taped to my wall for a couple of months.

[3catwoman3]

70. Agree completely. When we redid our kitchen, I looked at so many different light...

…fixtures while trying to choose something to go over a new island. One on-line site had a little message on the last page of their offerings that said, “If you didn’t see anything here that you liked, click this link to see 10,000 more.”

10,000 more! Aauuugggghhhhh! I ended up with a 3 light chandelier from our local Lowe’s that was on sale for $39.99, which I still like 15 years later.

[Irish_Dem]

73. 10,000 more choices......aghhhhhhh is right.

I like a pretty decor on my kitchen island and last Fall wanted some large wooden candlesticks for LED large candles to go with some vases and greenery I had purchases at Homegoods.

I looked online for candlesticks, but they were so expensive and so many styles, I couldn't make up my mind.

Then I had to go to Lowe's to get some dreaded paint samples for a friend of mine who cannot get out much.
And looked at Lowe's clearance area for fun.

There before me stood exactly what I was looking for, large wooden carved candles sticks, very expensive looking,
distressed white which matched a mirror in my hallway, clearance for $9 each!

I bought two and get compliments on them. They are perfect. Favorite thing in my kitchen.

[trof]

16. I'm hooked on the Below Deck series.

It's a sickness.
Below Deck, BD Med, BD Sailing, BD Adventure.
I always wonder how much is scripted.

[LakeArenal]

18. Bobby Flay has taught me how to cook.

But we totally hate spicy food and cinnamon which are flavors he loves

Every season of Top Chef. Padma never ages.

We also liked American Pickers til they fired Frankie.

Lottery Dream Home.

We get a show in Costa Rica called
Escape to the Château. The Escape to the Château DYI. English. My Fav.

Oh and The Great English Baking Show.

[Mr.Bill]

20. Escape to the Chateau is great.

We get it here on PBS. Haven't seen any new episodes lately, though.

[LakeArenal]

32. We can rarely tell what season a show is.

I read on line that it closed the show during COVID but they were going to start it again with some changes. Don’t remember what they were.

I love when Angel goes shopping the French thrift shops. I’d love to tour the European thrift shops.

[Mr.Bill]

33. I just marvel at the tenacity

these people have. I would never in this world take on such a project.

[LakeArenal]

36. Mr Strawbridge is an amazing engineer and Angel could design a pig sty and make it beautiful.

The kids are fun too.

[Mr.Bill]

40. I loved the show

about them getting that giant stove into the building. His engineering prowess saved the day.

[LakeArenal]

43. Everything they do

The Van Bar
Two glamping domes
The boat The Dolphin.
Mademoiselle Daisy. The old Wedding car

❣️❣️❣️❣️

[Evolve Dammit]

24. Emeril, Malto Mario and Two Fat Ladies

[LakeArenal]

34. Alex Guarnaschelli Brook Williamson, Carla Hall

I love so many

Michael Symon, Duff, Masaharu Morimoto

[Evolve Dammit]

78. You know what I have a problem with and I have largely stopped watching as a result? The cut throat

competition BS. Nasty

[LakeArenal]

79. US tends to be more aggressive than British.

I don’t find Top Chef that mean.

The worst are the storage hunter people. They are awful.

Think Pawn Stars are asses as well.

[Different Drummer]

81. Michael Symon is my favorite!

I love "Burgers, Brew, and Que" and the show where he cooks outdoors (can't remember the name of that one offhand).

[Farmer-Rick]

27. I'm hooked on all things Great British Baking Show

I can't bake to save my life but I love these shows. Something nice and comforting about them.

[LakeArenal]

31. No trash talk. I love that about TGBBakeoff.

[MLAA]

19. I'm partial to The Property Brothers.

[Mr.Bill]

21. Fixer to Fabulous is my current favorite.

My long time favorite is House Hunters.

[MLAA]

22. I love house hunters in the Caribbean! The stuff day dreams are made of 🙂

[LakeArenal]

39. House Hunters on St Martins inspired us to retire to Costa Rica.

[MLAA]

49. Wonderful! I enjoy the pics you post from time to time 🙂

[LakeArenal]

50. Thanks. It's been a dream.

[LakeArenal]

53. End of our driveway this am.

That side of the road goes down into the jungle. Howler monkeys too this am.

[MLAA]

54. Omg, paradise!

[Diamond_Dog]

63. Oh that is just freakin awesome!

[Different Drummer]

82. Nice view!

[LakeArenal]

84. That's the back view. This is the front view

[Different Drummer]

85. Wowsers!

No wonder you love it there.

[mnhtnbb]

74. I have a friend who was on House Hunters International

He moved to Lyon, FRANCE from Kansas City about 15 years ago. He was a high school French teacher here and he teaches in a private International school in Lyon. Moved before he had a job, but had met someone while he was there in the summer taking a course for his Master's degree.

He was already living in Lyon and they gave him three choices for an apartment, one of which had already come up in his current building which he planned to take. Several years ago he moved again to a fabulous 2 bedroom apartment overlooking a central courtyard.

In 2019 I started looking at renting an apartment in Lyon for 3 months to try out the idea of moving there. Before I could make it happen, COVID hit. In April 2020 I put a deposit on building a new house locally to get myself out of the downtown high rise apartment where I was living, feeling like I was playing Russian roulette every time I got in the elevator. I spent the summer of 2020 making design choices for my new house. I guess watching Property Brothers for years finally paid off, but I would rather have been choosing an apartment abroad.

You are lucky to be living your dream. I wasn't able to make mine happen. I turn 72 in March and just don't have the energy to make a move abroad happen now.

I've stopped watching House Hunters, Lottery Dream Home and Property Brothers, although I loved them all at one time.

[LakeArenal]

76. We were 67 and 68 when we moved. It's not too late!!!

In March 2019 our last pet passed and we knew we were heading here.

In July we auctioned all our stuff. The day of the auction our buyer’s pre-approval was rescinded because of a $2500 debt they didn’t disclose. We suddenly had no furniture and no sale… in August we decided we were going anyway. It would either be a long vacation or a permanent move. Something told me we had to go or never go. On Sept 1
2019 we arrived. The house closed on Sept 15. We had six months to get settled when, as you said, COVID hit. So yes, if we hadn’t moved when we did, we probably wouldn’t have gotten here.

But it’s been a dream and if you are gonna be Locked down, this was the place.

Although COVID restrictions here were much tougher than US… AND… they enforced them here.

For months we were only allowed to drive every other day and only between 5am and 5 pm. Take that mask holes!!!!

Thanks for sharing your story with me.

[mnhtnbb]

77. In July 2017 my dog was diagnosed

with a heart arrhythmia during surgery to remove bladder stones. The vet gave her 6 months. I couldn't leave her for 3-6 months to go try out living abroad, so I kept waiting to plan the trip. It was one month less than three years later that I finally had to make the decision to let her go in June 2020.

I'm glad it worked out for you when it did. COVID has blown up a lot of plans for a lot of people.

[LakeArenal]

35. I like property brothers when they compete against each other

[democrank]

25. Here's to life's simple pleasures

Contentment is a worthy goal

[calimary]

28. Yep. And for me, at least,

it means more time to do more stuff for my local Indivisible group.

DU is an EXTREMELY valuable tool toward that end.

[Warpy]

29. I'd prefer your mobile home, honestly

because every square inch in those things is planned out, some more successfully than others (useless hutch, meet crowbar. Yes, I did that). My SW trailer was never messy because there was a place for everything. It was cheap to heat and cheap to cool and a breeze to clean. When something had to be replaced, that was cheap, too. My cats adored it, a SW trailer is ideal for the 6:00 zoomies.

If I could have lifted it up and plunked it down in a more reasonable part of town,I'd still be in it.

[Mr.Bill]

30. Yes, we find it very easy to manage.

We retired and sold a 1600 sq ft conventional home and downsized to 815 sq ft. We are in a nice senior park and have really good neighbors. We are about to downsize again, too. Our family has mostly left the area for career reasons and they want us to be closer to them. At our age (72/69) it would be smart to do that.

My grandson is putting a 500 sq ft manufactured home on his five acres and we will move there in about three months. It will be brand new and we helped pick out all the finishes. It's about 175 miles from where we are at now. Hopefully, it's our last move. Time to downsize again and get rid of more stuff.

[LakeArenal]

37. We had an auction and sold everything.

I could not believe how much our old junk sold for.

Old Teen Beat Magazines with all the Beatle Pics cut out of them. $150. What the…?

[3catwoman3]

38. Since retiring almost 2 years ago, I have become quite a fan of some of the HGTV shows.

I particularly like Ben and Erin Napier and their Home Town show. The transformations they manage to create are most impressive. They seem to really annoy working together.

I do think that the home owners must have to sign some sort of release to the effect of, “I agree to be portrayed as a total jerk on this show.” Some of them are so whiny and pouty that I often find myself thinking, “I’m sure glad I’m not married to you!”

And the Americans who go abroad and piss and moan because they cannot find a 4000 sq ft house with5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a 3 car garage make me laugh. Have they never traveled before deciding to move overseas?

[LakeArenal]

45. Or grossed out the Europeans have a clothes washer the kitchen.

Or that apartments in old Europe are small and no green space.

[3catwoman3]

58. It's my general impression that a wide swath of Americans are...

…woefully ignorant of how the rest of the world lives, and not at all adaptable to different ways of doing things.

In the summer of 1981, I spent 2 weeks in the then-still Soviet Union, on a tour designed to look at health care in the USSR and compare nursing there to nursing here, with a specific focus on whether or not there was a Soviet counterpart to nurse practitioners. (Quick answer - there is not).

Not enough NPs signed up for the tour, so the company running it opened it up to any and all nurses. There were several older women who referred to themselves as private duty nurses (think “companion” to people who are home bound) who were all from Florida, specifically The Palm Beaches, as they never tired of telling the rest of us, and none of whom had ever traveled out of the US. Not even Mexico or Canada.

They didn’t handle it at all well. If you’ve never been out of the US, somewhere as different as the USSR is NOT the place to start. They bitched and moaned about everything and were embarrassing to be around.

[LakeArenal]

60. Ugly Americans.

We have lots in Costa Rica.

[3catwoman3]

64. I lived in Japan for 2 years during my second active duty...

…tour with the Air Force nurse corps. Single personnel pretty much had to live on base because off-base housing allowance was only given to married personnel, and off-base housing was crazy expensive.

Living on base was like being in a little chunk of America, which was OK, and there was the immediate and endless chances to explore Japan the moment you walked out of the base gates. I left the base as often as I could, and thoroughly enjoyed my 2 years there. Saw and did a lot.

Lots of the folks assigned there complained about how much they hated being in Japan, and they, typically, were the ones who never went off base, so they didn’t really experience Japan. Yokota Air Base, according to Wikipedia, occupies only 2.73 square miles/1763 acres, so it’s not very big. I can’t imagine having spent my whole 2 years there within the confines of the base. Such a wasted opportunity.

[LakeArenal]

68. How exciting. Imagine an experience for children who seem much more adaptable.

[MLAA]

52. Me too! Me too on everything you said.

How many times I’ve said to hubby, damn your lucky you aren’t married to her/him!

[LakeArenal]

44. Fun thread Mr Bill

[Mr.Bill]

46. Thanks. It started out slow.

You just never know if it's going to take off or not.

Thanks to all who have posted and Rec'd.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

47. My ex and I

Would watch msnbc,then Conan O brien,Jimmy Fallon (sometimes) ,the Daily Show,the Colbert show. Even though I kicked him out of my life ,I still miss making up our nut,fruit and cheese plates together and going downstairs and watching the Daily Show and other crazy shit on tv.

[LakeArenal]

51. We watch Colbert on YouTube every morning.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

55. What a great idea

I will join you in this with my coffee in tow.

[LakeArenal]

57. Sounds perfect. ☕️🌈🌞

[LakeArenal]

59. Do you remember Bargain Hunt with David Dickensen?

Or the 172 Yard Sale?

[Mr.Bill]

61. No, that doesn'r sound familiar.

How long ago was that?

[LakeArenal]

65. This one:

[Mr.Bill]

67. Nope, never seen that. n/t

[LakeArenal]

66. Oops it's the 127 yard sale

[Mr.Bill]

69. Now that sounds familiar.

Can't remember if I saw it or jusrt heard or read about it.

[Whatthe_Firetruck]

71. We like...

Zombie Houseflippers. Flipping Las Vegas.

Chopped, Bobby Flay's 2 shows, Guy's Grocery Games, tournament of champions, holiday baking shows (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.)

Survivor shows, naked & afraid, survivor man, dual survivor, alone. Mountain men, gold rush, jade fever.

Jail, on patrol live, cops.

[Emile]

75. Funny

[Different Drummer]

83. Personally, I like the true crime shows on TV.

Most of my viewing time is devoted to A&E, Oxygen, HLN, and--to a lesser degree-Discovery ID.