I mentioned in another thread I broke my eyeglass frames without a backup. Yesterday I ordered a new pair to replace the new pair I just got! It took less than a week to see I wasn’t totally happy with the one’s I just got. A small item, yet a tough decision, especially when they cost near $700.

So that got me thinking about decisions in general – toughest, easiest, best, worse, etc. Here is some of mine. What about yours?

Toughest
Buying new eyeglass frames - you knew that was coming
Buying a new mattress
Finding comfortable chairs that meet our requirements
When I was in the Air Force, trying to decide if I should re-up
Buying a new home in a new city

Easiest
Leaving my hometown of 18 years
Never returning to my hometown except to visit

Best
Wife has to be #1 (of course)
Joining the Air Force & seeing the world
Going to college
Buying sports cars, especially the MGAs & S2000
Switching from Windows to Mac
Not buying a cabin on lake up north just before the market crash

Worst
Pulling out of the market the very day it hit rock bottom
Buying stock in a Chinese car company
Not spending time with my parents when they got older, especially my dad

That was some of mine. What about yours?

 

I'm having a hard time categorizing life's decisions, some of the tough ones turned out to be the best ones, some not so much. Here's a few.

Decision to get married again - Scary, a bit of a tough decision due to past "events", but turned out to be the best decision.

Decision to stay at my current job about 26-27 years ago vs taking a job at a local school...Tough decision, probably one of my worst decisions.

Decision was made based on work duties and $ vs security/pension down the line.............like now at age 60, when a new boss is coming in...

Decision to buy our home, a bit scary but would categorize it in the best.

Decision not to sell our home for a bigger one, falls into the best decision category.

Decision to buy my camera fall into the best decision category.

New glasses, hairstyles, the minor stuff can be obsessed over.

The bigger stuff has worked out OK. We are very thankful for that.

 

Quess the topic required too much thought process for most.

 

well best and easiest are the same.
I just hope she agrees.

toughest,
it's been in the last few years but I can't go into details for the confidentiality of others.
Damn near put me in my grave carrying that burden dragging doubt and anguish along with every step.

worst,
My dad, who was a truck driver, asked me to go on an overnight trip with him, I passed.
At 17, the concept of being stuck in a truck seemed like an ordeal.
Two weeks later he had a heart attack and after another two weeks, he passed away.

 

Best decision.
1. To ask my wife to marry me. After 32 1/2 its still the best decision I've ever made and the smartest one too.
2. To learn all that I could from my father. Most everything that I know that's worth knowing I learned from him.

Toughest decision.
1. The decision to leave our New York City loft for a house in the New Jersey suburbs. (This could possibly qualify for the worst decision as well)
2. When I left the clothing business and decided to go back to school it was tough to decide between my passion, computers, what I thought would be a good career, law, or to pursue a field that I thought would allow me to get into my own practice (and prevent anyone from stealing from me again), accounting and audit. I chose accounting and audit and I've been happy, its a good way to make a living, and it's not quite as boring as most everyone thinks.

Easiest decision.
1. Same as best, to marry my wife.
2. To have two kids.
3. To buy a weekend house in Woodstock, NY (Saddest decision was to sell it when we moved to New Jersey)

Worst decision.
1. To work 70 hours a week trying to make something of myself and not spending enough time with my wife and kids.
2. Not buying 1,000 shares of Microsoft the day after the IPO in 1986.
3. Trusting my partners in the clothing business. (Also qualifies as the dumbest decision.)


I'm sure there are more in each category, but these are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

 

All I can say is, trust your instincts when making a decision.

Toughest

Having trouble thinking of any that were truly tough (in my mind). I tend to make them without too much hesitation. I'm an optimist, so look at the bright side of things. And philosophical when I'm not being optimistic. It's possible there were some, but since I don't dwell on things, I probably forgot about them.

Easiest

They are all pretty easy. I live the expression "just do it."

Best

1. Deciding to have a second date with the +1. After nine years of dating just about everyone in DC (in between some longer relationships). He is a great fit for me and a great person to boot.

2. After separating from my ex, locating and buying a condo here in Rosslyn (which was my preferred location due to the subway). Turned out to be a very good economic decision. Moved on to a larger one after meeting the +1. Actually, the progression of buying houses both during and after my marriage has paid off.

3. Picking Cherrydale for my mother's last year of life (although I didn't know it would be for more than just rehab - she ended up living there and the staff was wonderful).

4. Buying the S2000. Brought me another side of life and two of my closest friends.

Worst

I really can't think of one, at least off the top of my head. Life has been good so far.

 

Toughest was getting married again. It has turned out to be the best decision I ever made.
Worst: Getting married the first time.
Easiest: Not sure I tend to make decisions quickly after I've thought things through.
Best: Marrying +1 even though it was the toughest decision I ever made.
I do not care to worry over decisions once they're made. What's done is done and moving forward is the only option. IE, no crying over spilled milk. I find that most of the worst things that have ever happened in my life were things over which I had no control so no sense whining.

 

In my list of Toughest Decisions I listed "Finding comfortable chairs that meet our requirements."

Today was a good example. We have an Ethan Allen recliner that will be 30 years old in a few months. It was a grand back in 1986 but its held up grand as well. We want to replace it, as it gets used every day by either my wife or son. We drove to the Ethan Allen store in Lansing today. Sat in $3k leather recliners that we didn't like as well as a $1.5k recliner we found in Indiana but the one in Indiana came with an ottoman rather than a foot kickoff. That style will not work for us.

If I thought someone could re-do what we have, springs and all I go that route. Searching Goggle turned up nothing for our area. I doubt if Angies List would be any better in a 50 mile range - does anyone have experience with using it?

 

Best- Marrying my wife
- Getting out of California
- Buying Stiletto

Worst- Not lifting on turn six at Bogus Basin 5 years ago. Still paying for that one, literally.

Toughest- Moving out of California

Easiest- Can't think of one.

 

Sounds like there is a story there for us that were not there.