Convenience — Blog

My beautiful laundromat

My mother tells me the washing machine have gone kaput at the home. Being a rental place, it’s going to take some time to get the machine replaced with a (hopefully new) workin unit. In the meantime, my parents are hand-washing their clothes. Just like how they did it back in the old country (read: China). I asked why don’t they take the laundry to the local coin-operated laundromat. Being the extreme agoraphobe that she’s always is, my mother says those “public” washing machines are dirty and disgusting.

I guess? Doesn’t the washing machine sort of sell-cleans? Assuming people are actually using proper detergent…

Honestly, I can’t really argue with my mom. I’m lucky to never had the privilege of using an outside-the-house coin-op laundromat. Every place I’ve ever lived featured in-unit washer and dryer. As for way back when in China: well, I was a tiny kid then, so my parents did my laundry for me (manually). I do not know what it’s like to haul a bag of clothes to a public place, doing laundry at the same time with the rest of the neighbors who also don’t have built-in washers.

What is it like to put in a load of clothes and having to baby-sit it the entire way? I guess the advent of smartphones sort of killed that type of boredom. You can catch entire episodes of shows while the load is doing its spinning thing. Granted, surely those plastic chairs in a laundromat is not nearly as cushy and comfortable as your living room couch. Besides, you sort of have to pay some attention, no? This is America after all: someone can come steal your clothes - or your wallet - at any time. Got to be on alert constantly!

All that is to say: you sort of take the luxuries and conveniences of life for granted, until they get unceremoniously taken away from you, however momentarily. Practice gratitude for the things you already have, my friends.

Stock up!

One of the things I greatly miss about Japan is the sheer availability of drinks vending machines everywhere. You literally cannot go a few blocks without spotting one of them at a corner, ready to dispense refreshments. These vending machines are a godsend during Japan’s notoriously hot and humid summers. It’s also quite nice, too, to be able to have ice cold coffee practically anywhere, anytime, at a moment’s notice.

Obviously, such a concept of street-side vending machines everywhere would never work here in America. Our culture of rugged individualism would never allow such an enterprise to flourish. The machines would get vandalized and items stolen so quickly that they will never make any money from it. It’s a shame that we can’t have such convenience, though I guess there’s always the neighborhood Walgreens or CVS. Assuming the one local to you haven’t shutdown due to… vandalism and theft.

To sort of replicate having an arsenal of drinks at my disposable, I make weekly runs to Costco to stock up a on variety. Green tea is a given, plus cans of both Diet Coke and cold-brew coffee, and an aloe-vera drink. Whenever I’m hankering for something other than plain water - which is almost always - the cache of drinks is right there. Probably costs less than getting it from an actual vending machine, too.

Of course, it would be cheaper still - free, even - if I simply drink water from the tap. But that’s a terrible way to live: I make money so that I can enjoy tasty refreshments here and there. Until I actually move to an Asian country somewhere down the future, stocking up drinks at home is the way to go.