The Naked Truth
Here it is… the naked truth (instead of trickery) on April Fools’ Day.
Some things are so at the core of who we are – such a big part of our every day way of being – that they go unmentioned here at No Vacation Required. Today, we want to share 5 of those things. Random stuff that you probably don’t know about us as a couple and that you might find interesting. (We’ll save the really good stuff for when you are buying us whiskey.)
#1 – We dig sports.
Okay, I guess we’re getting off to a rocky, half-truthy start. Not all sports (not even close), and we’re not true fanatics because we only watch our hometown teams. But… we thoroughly enjoy soccer and a good football game. We even scream at the television from time to time.
#2 – We love us some “crappy” weather.
A cloudy, blustery day is aces in both our opinions. Seattle, with its Sound-side setting and dramatic mountain vistas, is all the better when the weather isn’t sunny. This probably explains why we have an affinity for Pacific Rim National Park in Canada – about the stormiest place we have ever been.
#3 – We hate shopping.
When it’s time to buy something, we like to just do it. Roaming through aisles for a day or afternoon is pure torture in our minds. To make #3 even more high impact, we’ll throw markets into the mix as well. As a matter of fact, we think Pike Place Market – here in Seattle – is nice but somewhat over-hyped. We like to tell eager-to-get-to-the-market visitors: “Sure, let’s go have a look around (insert long pause) and then we’ll do something fun.” Oh snap.
#4 – When traveling, we’ll go to extreme lengths: a) for good coffee b) to avoid taxis, tuk-tuks, etc.
This is where we play the Seattleite card in a big way. We have to have decent coffee where ever we are. Period. We’re equally passionate about our dislike of taxis. We’ll walk five miles before we’ll take a taxi. Well, usually.
#5 – If we LOVE something, we’re ALL in.
We are mindful about what we are passionate about, but we commit fully when we are. We’ll wait in long lines for food we love and travel across the country to see a band we’re crazy about. So, for example, right now if you are: The Good Wife, grilled cheese sandwiches, Burial, whiskey, Apple, Seattle Sounders, pro human rights, RuPaul, Chicago mix popcorn… we want to take you out behind the shed and make babies with you.
What’s something we don’t know about you?
OK, I’m a serious coffee addict myself, so I’m curious where (outside the U.S.) you’ve found your favorite coffees? I’m big on Colombian and Kona myself.
As for one thing you don’t know about me? I was a HUGE goth fan back in the late ’80s, and had hair halfway down my back for about 13 years.
Coffee lovers unite!
Honestly, when we predict a good-coffee-free zone in our upcoming travels, we’ll bring a french press and coffee from home! We’ve also started to enjoy Via from Starbucks – not too bad.
Must see pictures of those goth days
I like this game. It’ll take me a bit to think of 5, but here’s one: I can still put both feet behind my head at the same time. You’d be surprised how little called for this is.
Have a great week!
LOL! I think that skill scares people a bit
I am with you on all of them apart from number one. As for coffee, I will pay over the odds if it is a cup to die for
Finding good coffee becomes a mission on the road. Damn you Seattle coffee shops for spoiling us.
Love this you guys! I’m a taxi hater too! and the Pacific Rim is one of my favorite spots on this planet.
Isn’t the Tofino area incredible! How about you and D get a housesitting gig there
YES!!!Finally I am not alone when it comes to loving “crappy” weather….whenever I say to people that I like gloomy weather, or even a good thunderstorm, they look at me as if I’ve sprouted another head…a good cup of coffee is always Heaven…as a thing about me, I can spend hours at a time making friendship bracelets with intricate patterns – I don’t really have patience for anything else
Thunderstorms are the best (one of the best things about the time we spent in Bangkok).
I’m a coffee snob too…being from the Pacific NW doesn’t help. I was just in Maui and sought out the Maui Grown Coffee Co. and on our last day, put an order in and had it sent to my house, half roasted beans and half green beans to roast myself…luckily my travel partner humored me the whole time…
We went crazy one year visiting many of the coffee farms on the Big Island. A favorite travel memory.
Great post idea! I love “crappy” weather too! What you don’t know about me is that I have your kind of coffee passion, only for chocolate…. yum!
Why do you hate taxis?
Not sure why we are so anti-taxi. Maybe it’s bad experiences in the past… Hmmm.
Good thing chocolate isn’t a big addiction with either one of us. We both have enough food obsessions as it is!
I love sports too! But I love American football. I also like crappy weather, but not all the time. I need a little hot and a little cold . A good happy medium. Fun post guys!
Thanks, Meg! Hey, do you scream at the television
Most people aren’t aware that I don’t eat a lot of meat. The reason bacon is magic is because I usually cook vegetarian at home but if I have a vegetable I’m not sure how to cook I’ll usually throw it in with a bit of pancetta or chorizo but I rarely eat meat as a main course.
I BET people don’t know that. There’s a few good posts there, Ayngelina. “Coming out” as a semi-veg to all your meat loving fans
AHHH WHAT?! We feel so lied to!
I love crappy weather, too. Hm, something people don’t know about me. I don’t like crowds. I get super tense!
Good to know, D – I guess we’ll never make you do NYE on the Las Vegas strip. Oh, wait, we wouldn’t do that either.
I think queues are one of my least favorite things when I travel, I really cannot stand them! Travelling on a tight schedule makes me hate them even more!
I do love some crappy weather myself, I think stormy clouds add some character to photos!
Anyway, keep the great work!
I know another thing you hate when you travel… ridiculous fees (hello Vueling!).
Come on over to Seattle for some killer cloud viewing.
I thought this was going to be a post about a visit to a nude beach. Maybe next time?
Yours is the second post I’ve read today that praises Chicago mix popcorn, which is funny because I’m prepping a post in which I call it the most overrated thing in Chicago. I know I’m in the minority and I’m readying myself for the backlash!
You guys should go on that drag race cruise, although I’m not sure if RuPaul will actually be on it. (In any case, go Sharon Needles!)
Yes, watch for that nude beach post. We’re just in the process of selecting the best photos
I’m going to forget that you said that about Chicago mix popcorn and focus, instead, on what you said about Sharon Needles (totally agree).
Ooh la la at that seductive cover photo on the front page! Haha you guys sound like me when it comes to sports, “sure I like them…sometimes…if it’s a big event and I can understand the rules and there’s a cute player or two.”
I can’t agree about the shopping…well, when I have a lot of money to burn, I LOVE it…but otherwise I’m very much like you guys. Go, buy, get out of there.
Also loving that RuPaul got a mention.
Glad you like the front page photo. Ah, to be naked on the beach in Bora Bora – we miss those days. Or am I making that up…
Of course RuPaul got a mention. After all, he taught us that if you can’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else
Can I get an amen, Tom!
Hmm… good question.
I also LOVE sports, although my husband says I enjoy cheering against a few teams (the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys, for example) more than I love cheering FOR any team. I love that in sports you don’t have to be empathetic or listen or look for the gray; you can just give in to your basal desire for good guys and bad guys.
GO PACK!
Was that comment sponsored by the Packers
Hint… Chicago mix popcorn goes very well with sporting events. Hmmm… maybe it’s actually the sports-oriented food (and not the sports) that we love. Probably.
I love bad weather and hate shopping… But you can keep the coffee and sports!!
I actually get the coffee thing, Abby. You already have an amazingly quick wit. You don’t need caffeine.
I think Seattle has brainwashed you guys. hehe
I think my life would be a whole lot easier if I didn’t love the sun so much. I take it personally when it rains for days on end.
I love you guys even more for not liking to shop. I can’t stand it either.
I know… not cool… we tell the San Diego goddess that we love a good storm.
Okay… so when we get together, we won’t shop. Instead, you can teach us to surf (in the blazing sun, of course!).
Let’s see. I used to be a major teeny-bopper and attended four (FOUR) Backstreet Boys concerts in my heyday. Of course my favorite was AJ, the rebel of the group – he had tattoos and FACIAL HAIR. This was extreme for a thirteen year old.
On a somewhat related note, nowadays I think girls who are covered in tattoos (especially with full sleeves) are super hot, and I wish I could pull that off, but I just can’t make myself get started. I got one small tattoo years ago and THEN realized “holy shit, this is permanent!”
That’s certainly revealing… a teeny-bopper? I need to metabolize that.
I don’t like shopping either. Thunderstorms are great, as long as I don’t have to be outside in them getting soaked.
Most girls are addicted to new purses. I might have a luggage addiction. Which is a little insane for someone who likes to travel carry-on only, therefore would only need one bag at a time. But I have lots of varied backpacks.
LOL – a luggage addiction for a carry-on-only girl.
I’m the same way when it comes to taxis… I much prefer to walk 5 miles than having to jump in a cab and pay!
I don’t even know if it’s about the money. Oftentimes they’re so cheap in parts of the world. If you’re a walker as well, then I know we are in good company.
Love my coffee. I am with you on that one. And crappy weather days and hating shopping.
I love going to concerts but I am selective about which ones.
I am practicing meditation.
I love incense and candles. I dont buy lots of things for the house but will spend money on candles. And plants…
Oh, you should come to our house. At times, it’s a candle factory. And incense? Love it!
Oh yeah…and I am slightly addicted to tattoos. Deciding on my next one…
Ah ha – what tattoos do you have so far? Do tell
That coffee shot looks amazing.
Thanks – it even makes me want it all over again!
We have so much love for you two that it should be illegal! What’s even better is that we all like the same things. We declare a day of coffee, soccer, and grilled cheese sandwiches as soon as you two are free!
Maybe when we’re back from our run of travel and B-rock comes out
Most people, especially those who think they know me best, assume that if I hadn’t met my wife, that I would want to be a digital nomad like so many of the bloggers I follow. I might be able to take an extended trip 6-8 months, but I doubt I could ever make it a full-time thing. That confession sometimes makes me feel like less of a traveler, especially in the shadow of all the blogs by digital nomads, but at least I acknowledge it.
Interesting… I don’t think either of us could do it either. We love having a base (Seattle) for recharging. We’re on the road about 1/3 to 1/2 of the year. That’s plenty for us.
WHAT? You mean you two don’t fit every gay stereotype ever?? I’m shocked! SHOCKED I tell you!
I kinda figured that you’d have to love stormy weather to live in Seattle. I interned there in college during the winter months and found it to be pretty damn miserable. Of course, I was also working 12 hours a day and commuting from Auburn so I had no time to explore the city (I’ve since returned in the summer and loved it very much). That experience taught me that I need a little sun in my life…
What kind of internship brought you out here? And 12 hour work days… it pains us – as HR guys – to hear that
Let’s see.. this is a good one!
I also love that Seattle is crazy about coffee.
Being close to wine growing regions rules!
I live for the the view around Seattle.
I am crazy about music and 50′s 60′s Jazz in particular. I can spend hours in Easy Street Records.
There’s not much I don’t like to eat – and I’ll try most things at least once, My favorite food is Cajun/Creole.
When my wife is traveling, I sneak away to eat Pho almost every day.
I don’t miss wearing suits – another advantage of living in the West.
I have to admit – I don’t much care for the Seattle stormy season. I can only count so many shades of gray. This year is turning out so much better!
LOL – You do get to know shades of gray very well, don’t you!
Great site, guys! Always glad to meet people living life by their own rules.