a99kitten's Musings

At the beginning of the year I decided that I was going to eat lunch outside of the office one day a week. And enjoy it! This might not sound like a big deal to many people but to me it was. Before my current job, I worked at a hedge fund. That means market hours and you do not leave your desk during market hours. I think I can count the times I had lunch outside the office on 1 hand in the 10 years I worked there. And have fingers left.

Then I had start-up hours (which means never leave the office) and then even when my hours went to fairly normal, I didn’t go out much. I think mostly because a) I got used to eating quickly at my desk scanning news, stock prices, etc b) I thought going out to lunch was a waste of time, money and calories and c) I have the dogs here with me so never really thought I should leave them by themselves in the office.

But this year I decided one time per week, it was OK to spend a little time and money (and calories) out with co-workers/friends and actually enjoy a meal. It lasted pretty well through January. But sadly I think the experiment has come to an end.

Part of the problem is that in order for me to want to spend the time, money and calories on it, it has to be worthwhile to me. I know a lot of people garner a lot of joy from eating. I don’t think I am one of them. Certainly a really tasty meal is great. But I am far from one of those people that thinks about my next meal as I am eating my current one. Or that truly enjoys the experience of eating. I think my mind is too busy calculating how much exercise I just wasted on that food. Plus I’m a pretty plain/simple eater. So a lot of “fancy” stuff means nothing to me. And a lot of fatty, delicious stuff just creates guilt.

Some people live to eat. They truly enjoy it. They love to cook, find weird ingredients, talk about their joy of it, make up complicated or exotic dishes, try every new restaurant that opens, etc. That’s cool for them I suppose. I’m just not one of them.

I love going out to eat with my friends. But I actually enjoy the company and conversation more than the food. So if I’m not craving something in particular, and we are rushed, there is really no good reason to do it.

If I’m not able to spend the time and relax a little, it’s just not worth it to me. If I’m still eating and the check is already being divied up and people are grabbing their purses looking at me (no, I am definitely not a slow eater – kinda like Storm that way!), then it’s not worth the time, money or ingested extra calories. F it.

And if it is pointed out how many calories I just ate, I don’t need to be with those people out to lunch.

So I guess it’s back to my desk and checking twitter and my stock prices. The huskies like this more too I think. a) I am here b) they can share my lunch c) I don’t have to stay at work later to make up the time I spent out and can take them home at a reasonable time and d) the money I save I can use on more treats for them :)