What is your definition of luxury?
What would you do if you won $40 million dollars?
Listening to the radio when I was driving recently the announcer was discussing a $4o million dollar Lotto ( lottery) draw. He said the winner would be, “Living in the lap of luxury.” Listeners were invited to phone in and describe their idea of luxury.
Generally people listed building or buying dream homes, first class world travel, especially cruises, cars, boats, bikes and 4WD vehicles. One man said he’d pay for his Nanna’s hip surgery as she’d been waiting for it a long time, but mostly listeners wanted to buy similar things; houses, travel and vehicles.
I didn’t win Lotto and am not in the market for any of those things but I do like luxurious little treats around the house which make life very comfortable. They’re much cheaper than the list above, too!
1. My mother always has FRESH FLOWERS in the house. Like her, I mostly grow them in the garden, so minimal cost. I like pretty relaxed arrangements of whatever is flowering. I specifically grow roses, alstromerias, tulips and irises as cut flowers and create contrasting colours using ivy, rosemary and lavender. ( If the ivy roots whilst in the vase, I plant it on the verge where I’m creating a low maintenance garden. Lawn needs mowing and constant watering, but ivy is easy and lush) I also have an orchid which blooms every year and stays inside for about five weeks.
2. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY accessed through our local library. I can download books, DVDs, order books, magazines and DVDs from their catalogue, send printing and pick it up later and also read current magazines and newspapers.
3. The best COFFEE and TEA. Since my niece told me about a coffee capsule strong enough for my preferred double espressos, I’d rather drink coffee at home and really enjoy the flavour. Espressos arrive cold in coffee shops, at home I have the luxury of great flavour, fine china and hot coffee. It is consistently good and I can recycle the capsule. My son, a keen tea drinker, has a cupboard full of his favourite blends. He uses loose leaves in a teapot or a tea infuser. This way he avoids the plastic in many teabags and has a very good cup of tea.
4. LEMONS and LIMES. Zest and a fresh flavour hit for fish, salad dressing, Asian flavoured foods, pancakes, chutney and in bottles of water. I love the smell, flavour and versatility of these common citrus. They add luxury to everything! And vitamin C.
5. FRESH AIR and SUNLIGHT. In winter the light comes right into the back of the house. It adds warmth and brightness. First thing in the morning, while the coffee machine warms up, I go around and open the shutters. I also open doors to let the air circulate and freshen the house. Everything feels clean and lighter.
This one always finds the warm sunlit patches.
6. Retirement has brought the luxury of using TIME how I like, including lying in bed some mornings, reading, and going to activities such as painting, mahjong, yoga and bookclub during the day. I walk 12 000+ steps a day and used to do this mostly at night. Now I have the time to do two or three long walks a day. I still vacuum, shop, cook and tidy up, but not at a frantic pace. Being able to choose how I spend my time is luxurious!
Apart from being my brother’s birthday, yesterday was Caviar Day. True caviar comes from only a few types of sturgeon. So, celebrate with a bowl of caviar eaten from a mother of pearl spoon and enjoy its salty deliciousness.