My two dogs become agitated and start barking when I open my underwear drawer to put on a bra. Experience tells them they are being left. Whether it be for 30 minutes or 30 hours, my bra and any other binding clothing are discarded the minute I walk into my sanctuary of a home. I value comfort over many other states of being. Now mind you, I probably end up changing clothes five times a day. My multiple clothing changes correlate with the many hats I wear- I’m a focus group facilitator in my family’s small business; I’m program director for an arts enrichment program for at risk middle schoolers; I’m a writer and clay illustrator; and partner in my Be Brave. Lose the Beige business. Given the varied responsibilities of these endeavors, the result is a lot of wardrobe changes. My desire for comfort trumps the inconvenience of unbuttoning and refastening.
Late one evening not long ago I bumped into a friend in a 24 hour drug store. She was wearing a dress (the professional looking kind not the housecoat throw-on kind). It became evident (after a few nosey questions) it is her M.O. to get dressed just once a day. She stays in her a.m. clothes until she readies for bed. She is the kind of neighbor who looks wonderful even at unannounced drop-ins at her house, make up and all. (I actually have a lot of neighbors like that so I suspect I’m in the minority on this issue.) I’m like a four year old scrubbing lipstick residue off the minute I hit my front door.
Nevertheless, I still choose my way, neighbors or not. I value every moment of the day. Any way I can enrich these moments of mine, I will. And my physical comfort nurtures my psychic comfort.
I made the decision to go grey a few weeks ago. Actually, I had been wanting to do it for a long time but couldn't find a stylist who seemed keen on working with me. I am 53, a school teacher and look probably 10 years younger, and i was being told 
I wrote this in 2003 and recently discovered it in a desk drawer!
HI, Sylvestercat,
Do an online search of the topic "housing exchange," or "house- or home- exchange," and lots of things will pop up.
There is a busy hot-topic conversation thread going on under "Other Topics" and "Shared Housing Alternatives" on
I have a friend that is retired, and yet every morning she gets up, gets dressed and does her hair even if she has nothing to do or planned for the day. She says she does this I case one of her kids calls and they need her to do something for them.. She just doesn’t understand HOW I can possibly stay in my PJ’s all day long.
I come home from work, fix my lunch for the next day, and hit the tub to soak off the day. Even if it’s 1:30 in the afternoon. Then it’s into my PJ’s.
I prefer comfort, and refuse to be DRESSED and waiting for anyone. If they call, and they can’t wait for me to get ready, to hell with them. I am not “on call” for anyone.
A good slugfest is my idea of a mini vacation.