I left work late tonight and then went to the gym after, so I didn't start my walk home until nearly 9. In case you don't know, I moved in with P a few weeks ago and instead of getting the tube every day, I get to walk over the Millennium Bridge every day.
I was a bit knackered, so I didn't rush, the weather was Autumnal, cool but not cold. As I was walking over the bridge, looking at how beautiful London is from the river I suddenly felt really peaceful. ANd you know what, I have every reason to.
I may be 5 stone heavier than I should be, near to 36 and losing my hair but I'm doing something about it and have lost 10lbs in 4 weeks. And who cares if I'm 36? I have no real responsibilities. No mortgage, no kids etc.
My job isn't brilliant, but it pays the bills, the people are pretty nice and I learn something new every day.
There is an end in sight to the debt I've carried like a weight since I was at University. In fact it'll all be gone in 2 - 3 years, barring disasters.
I live in the best place in the world and I get to wander about by the river any time I like.
My friends are all well as are my family. Two of my best mates had their first kids this year and the other just got married last week. And most importantly I'm finally in a relationship where I feel like an equal. Where I let myself feel like an equal. I live with someone who genuinely loves and respects me and who I love and respect. I'm not motivated to behaviours by fear of being dumped or fear of being alone.
And I bought myself a shit hot new pair of trainers today.
Life's fucking brilliant sometimes. Something that's brought home to me when the Tate Modern's in front of me, St Pauls is behind and the Thames is underneath.

So what good stuff gives you that feeling? And is there a real life happy place for you?

QUOTE:
And I bought myself a shit hot new pair of trainers today.

Oh, you. You poor dumb bastard. This gives me anything but a good feeling.

They're Stan Smiths, you cock-monkey.

I am the King of Trainers.

My wife got some cheap plimsoles at the Cash and Carry for me and everyone keeps gawking at me and asking me where I got them from. I don't even know what they're called. Ha!

I am the King of Plimsoles. I need nothing with writing on it!

hobbes wrote:

QUOTE:
They're Stan Smiths, you cock-monkey.

Fucking hell. FUCK. Oh well.

Wait. Stan Smiths I or II? Lace up or comfort?

Thought you didn't like Sam Smiths hobbes.

I actually just put away for next summer my white Stan Smith with inner checked claret material. I took out my brown soft leather Sneekers out as it is autumn. And a also a curiosity I bought a few week ago for autumn, a kind of leather trainerish shoe by Fender (yep, that Fender...) and they look rather nice, they'll go lovely with my bargain cord Nicole Fahri jacket that I got the other day.

Good Hobbes, you're on the path of righteousnes when it comes to trainers.

Oh I'll be getting some Air Max 95's soon too.
I like Adidas Lyra. I just like Nike more.
I fear this thread has become terminally derailed.

There's an allegory in this thread somewhere. Can't quite put my finger on it...

Stan Smith II. Good work on the laces an all.

To drag this mess back on topic...

On Sunday, my daughter (5) learned to ride a two-wheeler. On Sunday night - completely unrelated, I assure you - she lost her first tooth. I got to play tooth fairy for the first time. Neat.

I'm wearing a pair of those right now. Good stuff.

I'm really happy for you, hobbes.

I don't think I'll ever quite get to that place. I'm mostly comfortably numb at the moment, noting with some elation, however, that my long financial woes may be over. Till the next bunch of financial woes set in. At the same time, I far that the ugly monster that tormented me for a few years is going to return.

I, too, rarely reach that carefree nirvana. Too much existential angst, for me. I'm very glad that you have been able to, though, Hobbes, old chap. (That weight loss is impressive too!)

The nearest I get are moments which will seem fairly predictable, I suppose, given that I've gone on about thse topics so much in the past.

The first is when I'm in the presence of dogs. Their simplicity, optimism, straightforwardness and occasional outright buffoonery just inherently makes me smile. I actually went and sat in my local park for a while, last weekend, just so I could see some dogs.

The second is when I'm on the road on my bike. The sense of freedom to go where I like, when I like - something I'd never had before - is exhilarating in itself, but things like tearing across Salisbury Plain without another vehicle in sight obviously offer a slightly more visceral elation. Also, when out on 'unplanned' rides, there's the moments when you chance across something you didn't know was there. One day I suddenly found myself riding through Avebury stone circle and on another I looked to a hillside and saw I was passing the Long Man of Wilmington. Moments like that just remind you that you're in the world you read about.