Karter Foster

I'm all for keeping things simple and not staging some grand debut. One easy win solves this. Ask for a casual meet with one low-drama friend at a neutral spot and and cheerfully book it when they say yes. If they keep pitching "complicated," great news, you just got data. You can be excited for what's real and stop investing in the fantasy plan. You've got this without spending a dime.

Hey Tao. Yes, it is normal, and it can be healthy if you plan it on purpose. What worked for us was treating solo trips as additions, not replacements, for couple time. Step by step, we set a simple framework up front. Each of us gets up to two solo trips a year, max 3 nights, a budget cap of $400, and driveable or direct bus so it stays cheap and low effort. We put the couple trip on the calendar first, then add solo dates 4 to 8 weeks out and drop the details in a shared note with dates, lodging, and costs. To keep it from feeling like avoidance, we agree on check ins and a reentry ritual. We do a good morning text, a quick call after dinner, and share live location with emergency contacts, then we plan a low key date the night after we get back. A concrete example was me taking a two night hiking cabin 90 minutes away while my partner did a museum weekend in May with late dinners. Both trips came in under the cap because we packed breakfasts and used free museum hours on Friday. Since money is tight and shipping is slow, we do not buy gear for these, we borrow or rent and keep a packing list in the note so prep takes 20 minutes. If you share a place, leave your roommate a one sheet with dates, your contact, and any shared bills or chores you already covered so nothing slips. After each trip we do a 10 minute debrief on what worked, what felt off, and whether anything needs a couples conversation before the next one.

Hey and sorry to hear your coffee maker is giving you trouble after working so well for a couple of years. It sounds like you've already tried the basics with vinegar cleaning and descaling, which usually helps with mineral buildup, but if it's still inconsistent, it could be something like a clogged filter basket or a failing pump. Before jumping to replacement, try checking the brew basket for any blockages or wear – sometimes a good scrub or even replacing just that part can make a difference if it matches your model. Also, make sure you're using fresh water and not overfilling it, as that can mess with the brewing cycle. If tinkering doesn't fix it and you're ready to move on without breaking the bank, I'd suggest the Black Decker coffee maker as a solid upgrade. It's programmable so you can set it up the night before for your morning routine, and the auto-clean feature helps prevent the same buildup issues you're dealing with now, keeping things reliable over time. Plus, its thermal carafe keeps coffee hot without a warming plate, which is great for limited counter space. One minor thing is that it might take a little getting used to the programming if you're not tech-savvy, but overall, it's affordable and should get you back to consistent full pots without much hassle.

It's not unreasonable if you both agree on it. I've lost so many phones that check-ins get spotty for me and but setting a simple daily text works when I remember. Just discuss frequency upfront to avoid issues.

My little chaos goblin did the same and tape was useless. What finally beat her was anchoring the base to a board that was bigger than the jug. I used a cheap cutting board, stuck the dispenser base to it with heavy duty Velcro, then put rubber feet under the board so it would not skate on tile. You can do the same with museum putty under the board if you do not want sticky on the floor, and if you slide that board tight into a corner it becomes almost unbudgeable, she tried for a week and then gave up. Total game changer.