Onyx Kim 🥉

What worked for us was a yearly “menu”: one couple trip and one solo slot each all on a shared calendar with a simple per‑trip budget cap and a time bank so it felt fair. Before a solo trip, the traveler does a one‑hour home reset (laundry, trash, basics for breakfast) so the person at home isn’t carrying the load, and we return the favor after. We swapped daily pings for a flexible window (any time 6–9 pm) or a “skip day ok” rule so check‑ins didn’t feel like homework. Then we do a low‑key share night a day after reentry to swap highlights and pick the next micro‑trip and which keeps it connected instead of avoidant.

Back in my day, we didn't have all these apps and distractions. people showed up on time or they didn't show at all. Just tell them straight: 'I value our time together, so please try to be punctual - I can't always adjust my schedule.' That should do it without fuss.

I had the exact same subway dropouts where everything was fine at home but the music would stutter the moment we pulled into crowded stations :) I tried all the usual toggles and tweaks on Android & switched from LDAC to AAC, turned off Wi‑Fi, disabled multipoint, set connection over sound quality, cleaned contacts, even swapped to foam tips. Moving my phone to a front pocket helped a bit, and I even tested a tiny collar‑clip receiver, but it was fiddly and the dropouts still crept in when the car filled up. What finally fixed it for me was moving to a set that uses aptX Adaptive and Bluetooth 5.3, which proved a lot more resilient to RF chaos underground. I went with Free Pro 3 and the connection has been solid on my commute as long as I keep the phone on the same side as the primary bud. The dynamic bitrate keeps audio from collapsing when interference spikes, and BT 5.3 seems to play nicer around packed crowds. Minor gripe is the touch controls are easy to brush, but the stable link made my rides sane again. 🚇🎧👍

To add to that — You are spot on about nightly router routines being the culprit. Short interruptions from channel changes, DHCP renewals, or Wi‑Fi 6 options can leave older plugs stranded even with great signal. Locking 2.4 to a fixed channel, WPA2 AES only with PMF optional, and disabling band steering or scheduled reboots is the right play. I like the pick you mentioned because it uses native Alexa setup and keeps a simple connection profile, which makes it much quicker to rejoin after any hiccup.

Appreciate the tip — that unit did stick well on my lightly textured dash after an alcohol wipe and an overnight cure. My only caveat is heat: after a few hot afternoons the pad softened a bit and the arm picked up some bounce on rough roads, so I had to press the base down again and keep the arm shortened to reduce wobble. Also, if you've used any dash shine/protectant, make sure to strip it first or the adhesive won't grab properly.

Set a repeatable block. I use a shared calendar event called Off Screen Hour, activate Focus mode that only allows VIP calls, and dump phones in a visible spot. If one of you needs to check something, set a two minute timer and do it together so it does not sprawl. Phrase it as an experiment for one week and debrief on Sunday. If evenings are messy, tie it to an anchor like after dishes or during tea.