Paul26's recent activity
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Comment on Moving out soon. Think out loud with me regarding saving money vs. quality of life. in ~life
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Comment on Moving out soon. Think out loud with me regarding saving money vs. quality of life. in ~life
Paul26 LinkI lived with room mates once and hated it. I tend to be very clean and tidy and ended up picking up everyone’s slack. If I were in your shoes, as long as you are still earning some money, I’d pick...I lived with room mates once and hated it. I tend to be very clean and tidy and ended up picking up everyone’s slack. If I were in your shoes, as long as you are still earning some money, I’d pick my own place. It would also depend on job and career prospects: will you be earning more each year? Or the opposite: is your job not stable and may lose it? Then maybe the conservative choice of room mates and more savings is better. Lastly, hobbies. Out of the extra money left after paying rent, how much do you realistically need for fun, hobbies, etc? Personally when I lived alone I was pretty cheap on that front. All I did was play video games in my apartment and occasionally hang out with a friend or two. No expensive hobbies, restaurants, etc.
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Comment on What's something you're "in too deep" on? in ~talk
Paul26 Link ParentI have something like a local hill that’s cheaper, but the snow on it tends to be terrible and icy because it’s too warm. I still wipe out quite often, so fluffy snow helps a lot.I have something like a local hill that’s cheaper, but the snow on it tends to be terrible and icy because it’s too warm. I still wipe out quite often, so fluffy snow helps a lot.
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Comment on What's something you're "in too deep" on? in ~talk
Paul26 Link ParentFor me it’s about a 1.5 to 2.5 hours drive depending which place I want to go to. I am spoiled for choice here, but my favourite is Sunshine Village (near Banff, in Alberta, Canada). It’s around...For me it’s about a 1.5 to 2.5 hours drive depending which place I want to go to. I am spoiled for choice here, but my favourite is Sunshine Village (near Banff, in Alberta, Canada). It’s around $190 for a day now if you don’t have a season pass (I don’t). There are some things you could sign up for and get some discounts, but if you just want to be spontaneous, that’s the price. Plus gas $ and food of course.
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Comment on What's something you're "in too deep" on? in ~talk
Paul26 Link ParentA couple years ago I started snowboarding. If lift tickets were cheaper, I’d probably be more than still a beginner by now. This is an expensive hobby! I ended up going a lot the first winter but...A couple years ago I started snowboarding. If lift tickets were cheaper, I’d probably be more than still a beginner by now. This is an expensive hobby! I ended up going a lot the first winter but then no more than 2-3 times.
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Comment on What video games would you say have the best stories? Feel free to suggest more than one. in ~games
Paul26 LinkMaybe not quite at the level of some of the titles already mentioned in other comments, but I was a big fan of Borderlands 2. For a RPG looter shooter, this games has, in my opinion, a really good...Maybe not quite at the level of some of the titles already mentioned in other comments, but I was a big fan of Borderlands 2. For a RPG looter shooter, this games has, in my opinion, a really good story. It’s quite long especially if you do most of the side quests. The villain is a real a-hole. You really get to hate him. There is also quite a lot of humor which is a pleasant surprise. Very diverse array of characters, with throwbacks to Borderlands 1, which is cool if you played it.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (December 2025) in ~health.mental
Paul26 Link ParentYou're right, and I forget too easily that "comparison is the thief of joy." I don't even know what I am comparing too, because I am not looking at friends or strangers and thinking "I want what...You're right, and I forget too easily that "comparison is the thief of joy." I don't even know what I am comparing too, because I am not looking at friends or strangers and thinking "I want what they have" or 'I should be more like X." I think it's some sort of unrealistic expectation I have of myself, some idea I created, like a self-imposed standard. "I should do more of X and less of Y." As if there is some sort of universal ranking of activities. I think I am indeed too harsh on myself. I need to relax a little. If I like playing some games and they don't interfere with responsibilities (partner, job, family, pets), what's the harm? It seems the only person keeping score is myself and the reason for it is becoming increasingly blurry to me. Maybe some residual stuff from childhood.
As far as what I truly want goes, it's always been an elusive topic for me. Most of the time once I get what I want, I just end up wanting something else. Perhaps what I want is not to want, but to be; to be happy and content with what I have rather than wanting anything else. Thank you for the advice. I will continue to reflect on it and also stop robbing myself of my own joy too!
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Comment on How did you choose your podcast app and would you switch to a different one? in ~tech
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Comment on 2025 Spotify Wrapped is now out in ~music
Paul26 (edited )Link ParentMine is reflective of about 60% of my listening. I have a memory card with music in my car, vinyl sometimes at home, a good chunk of radio (FM and some internet radio particularly SomaFM - old...Mine is reflective of about 60% of my listening. I have a memory card with music in my car, vinyl sometimes at home, a good chunk of radio (FM and some internet radio particularly SomaFM - old school - that I play in a browser when I work from home). I take my Apple Music wrap-up with a grain of salt.
Your chant music made me think of the album Advaitic Songs by Om. The first song, Addis, is a chant. Very cool album.
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Comment on 2025 Spotify Wrapped is now out in ~music
Paul26 Link ParentI’m not a parent and I have these songs too. Should I be worried? HahaI’m not a parent and I have these songs too. Should I be worried? Haha
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Comment on How did you choose your podcast app and would you switch to a different one? in ~tech
Paul26 LinkI only ever used the built-in Apple Podcast app. I don’t think I listen to enough podcasts to warrant exploring other apps. I don’t love the app, but I don’t know what I’m missing either. An...I only ever used the built-in Apple Podcast app. I don’t think I listen to enough podcasts to warrant exploring other apps. I don’t love the app, but I don’t know what I’m missing either. An easier way to manage old episodes would be nice. Say I want to check old episodes and it’s a podcast that’s been on for years, it’s a lot of scrolling. And it defaults to new stuff. I wish I could say “for this podcast, play the old stuff first and ignore new episodes”. Plus some better navigation options. But overall it works fine with the shows I’m up to date on.
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Comment on Your favorite deeply unpopular music in ~music
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Comment on Your favorite deeply unpopular music in ~music
Paul26 Link ParentI love this kind of music. Growing up in 90s Europe, these bring joy and nostalgic vides in the best way possible.I love this kind of music. Growing up in 90s Europe, these bring joy and nostalgic vides in the best way possible.
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Comment on Your favorite deeply unpopular music in ~music
Paul26 Link ParentI discovered Nightwish 25 years ago as a kid listening to a metal show late at night on the radio. The song was She Is My Sin from the Wishmaster album. I gave the newer vocalists a shot, but to...I discovered Nightwish 25 years ago as a kid listening to a metal show late at night on the radio. The song was She Is My Sin from the Wishmaster album. I gave the newer vocalists a shot, but to me it's not the same. There is a mix of Tarja's voice and nostalgia vibes that is not replaceable for me, regardless how talented her replacements have been. That song was also the first song I ever heard that had female vocals with that opera-like powerful clear voice (not growling or other things). Before that I was only listening to Iron Maiden and Manowar.
Going back to the thread itself, I love the metal band Haggard. I am not sure how well they are known, but I'll guess not very well known. They are amazing. So many instruments mixed with metal and still sounding cohesive. Their albums tend to be stories. One of them, for example, is all about Galileo Galilei. Another about Nostradamus. If you like metal and symphonic music, check them out. Oh, they also sing in several languages on some albums.
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Comment on 2025 Spotify Wrapped is now out in ~music
Paul26 Link ParentAnother thing where this falls short is other sources of music. I listen to a lot of FM radio for example. There is a station that's ad-free and plays many lesser-known songs. I find a lot of gems...Another thing where this falls short is other sources of music. I listen to a lot of FM radio for example. There is a station that's ad-free and plays many lesser-known songs. I find a lot of gems that I then add to my Apple Music library.
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Comment on 2025 Spotify Wrapped is now out in ~music
Paul26 LinkAlways neat to see the wrap-up. Not many surprises at my end. If anything it looks funny because my top genre remains metal, but the top artist (Blue Foundation), song (Espresso by Sabrina...Always neat to see the wrap-up. Not many surprises at my end. If anything it looks funny because my top genre remains metal, but the top artist (Blue Foundation), song (Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter), and album are not. I got a bit obsessed with the K-pop Demon Hunters soundtrack for a while so of course it picked it up as my top album. There is the "music I listen to alone" and "music I listen to when driving with my wife". These are very different, but the algorithm does not know this. Anyway, still a neat little thing to see at year end.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (December 2025) in ~health.mental
Paul26 LinkI've been feeling a little off. Overall, I have a good life, all needs met, nothing to really stress me. However, I always have a voice in my head that wants more, or seeks new things. After not...I've been feeling a little off. Overall, I have a good life, all needs met, nothing to really stress me. However, I always have a voice in my head that wants more, or seeks new things. After not playing many video games earlier in 2026, I found I am once again playing on a regular basis. This is ok in moderation, but I don't know if it's really that good in the long run. It's easy dopamine, and easy to get addicted to it and find it more fun than most other things out there. I'm keeping an eye on this concern, but I'd lie if I said I'm not enjoying it a lot.
Work is OK, but I've hit a point (2 years into the job) where I am becoming a little bored. Work always meant a lot to me as I do spend such a large part of my life working (8 hours a day 5 days a week). In my mind, I have to love at least some parts of it, otherwise it's downright depressing. The pay and benefits are good, people are good, so those 2 things keep me going. The work itself is meh or boring. The fun tasks are rare. I'll try to move internally if some interesting roles pop up in 2026, assuming I fit and there is leadership support of course. I really don't want to hit to job market and apply elsewhere. This role deviated from what I have done so far in my career, so it will be hard to market myself effectively.
Family-wise my parents are getting older and showing more health issues, which weighs on me. They live in a different province, so I feel unable to help them quickly if need arises. My sibling is going through some hard times and moved back with my parents for now, which is placing additional pressure on all 3 of them. I helped them financially to some extent, but otherwise not too much I can do hands-on from this far away.
To top it off, I stepped into my 40s this year and while mentally and physically I do not feel it, I sense it through the world around me. Parents issues, state of career, the way others interact with me, the notion of time itself. I feel the hourglass is slowly ending, and that the second half of it will likely bring more and more hardships. My parents will one day pass away, for example. Or they will get sick and I'll have to make drastic changes in my own life to help them. Maybe I'll have to drain all my life savings to help them with who-knows-what medical bills. I guess I am not very excited about life in general. Everything feels very routine and big bad things feel inevitable. I don't have kids. I try to find joy in hobbies, work, my partner. My life looks great on paper, and I seem to be my own mental obstacle to recognizing all the good things and being more grateful. Many would kill to have my life. Wish I could flip a switch in my head and quiet all the negative thoughts.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (December 2025) in ~health.mental
Paul26 Link ParentLast time I was looking for work, AI was just getting started. I can only imagine job searching is changing now. I hope I don't have to look for work anytime soon.Last time I was looking for work, AI was just getting started. I can only imagine job searching is changing now. I hope I don't have to look for work anytime soon.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (December 2025) in ~health.mental
Paul26 Link ParentThanks for the advice. I hear you and I am getting to the point where I'll either apply to something internal soon, or external if I cannot stay here. I do like the place I work for quite a bit,...Thanks for the advice. I hear you and I am getting to the point where I'll either apply to something internal soon, or external if I cannot stay here. I do like the place I work for quite a bit, so I tried to be patient.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (December 2025) in ~health.mental
Paul26 Link ParentMy partner and I met online, and were friends first, then in a relationship, over about 2 years prior to finally moving to the same city. That was almost 15 years ago. I think starting a...My partner and I met online, and were friends first, then in a relationship, over about 2 years prior to finally moving to the same city. That was almost 15 years ago. I think starting a relationship like that has its challenges. It is hard being so far from the person you love, but you know what? It also meant that we had a long time to just talk and get to know each other. Basically we were able to take things slowly and build a foundation prior to taking a chance on things like living together. I think these days things happen so fast. It's not a bad thing to get a chance to take it slow.
The room mate option sounds pretty good in your case, then. I’m biased and my experience is limited to college days room mates rather than responsible adults. It also sounds like kitchen cleanliness won’t be an issue, so that’s a big plus. Almost sounds like you could use it however you want if the air fryer is the only appliance that sees any use. As a side note, do they all just order food every day?! Isn’t that expensive? Irrelevant to the topic at hand, but makes me wonder! Haha.