the Guppie Life

I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions. A new calendar year seems like a pretty arbitrary reason to set goals, but I understand the appeal of starting over with a metaphorical blank slate.

Usually I don’t make New Year’s resolutions at all, but this year I was inspired by a guest post on Zen Habits called “The Amazing Power of One.” The blog post suggests ranking all of your goals in order of importance. Then, you focus on these in order, one at a time, until each goal is fulfilled or becomes routine. (I especially like that the author suggests you reward yourself at the completion of each goal!)

I used to pride myself on being an excellent multi-tasker, but since entering the yuppie ranks I have discovered that my To-Do list has mutated. These days it’s no longer an opportunity to feel accomplished and smugly productive. (I used to cross off items I had already completed in order to feel better about my time-management skills.) Instead, my To-Do list has evolved into a source of unending anxiety and dread.

Therefore, the concept of one-goal-at-a-time is very attractive to me. I’m just worried that it might be a challenge to keep myself from getting back in the habit of maintaining an unrealistic, dread-inducing list of Things Responsible Boys Do.

For now at least, only one goal at a time.

First up in 2008: Opening a ROTH IRA! Who’s with me?

Popularity: 15% [?]

I love giving gifts around the holidays, but every year I struggle when it comes time to shop for my gaggle of gays. I know it’s supposed to be the emotion behind the gift that counts, but I really want my gift to stand out from the rest. Tis better to give than receive, eh?

As a whole, gays are a pretty difficult lot. Clothes are out of the question, because most of my gay friends are incredibly more stylish than me, and guessing sizes is a madman’s game. If you guess too big or too small, the gift recipient might get offended and/or rush off to join a gym. Plus, style is a pretty personal decision. I’d rather not feel obligated to wear an ugly sweater because it was a gift.

To make matters more complicated, I detest giving gift cards. While I do not hate receiving them, gift cards are the ultimate in gift-giving laziness. Giving a gift card as a Christmas gift is the equivalent of wearing sweatpants on a first date. Yeah, technically it’ll get the job done, but there’s something to be said for pretty packaging and a few dollops of effort.

So what’s a gay yuppie on a budget to do? Below are just a few ideas I have begun to mull over. Mostly they’re things that I want. :)

Yeah, every gay and his mom has an iPod already, but having two can be twice as nice. For instance, I’m a complete spaz at the gym, and always worrying about dropping my iPod. But I wouldn’t have that problem with the Shuffle, which feels weightless, and comes with a convenient built-in clip.
Price: $80

I’m still pretty new to my town, having moved here not too long ago for a job, and I’m still having difficultly finding my way around. A GPS for my car would have come in handy many, many times by now. If I don’t get one this holiday season, I’m buying one for myself, though they aren’t inexpensive.
Damage: $200-$500.

Cologne is one of my favorite indulgences, though when buying cologne as a gift I would stick to a fragrance I know the gift-getter already likes. If my nose is at all accurate, I smell a lot of Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme, Burberry Brit for Men, Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce, and Armani Acqua Di Gio when I go out to gay clubs… which is once every leap year, give or take. (Disclaimer: I wouldn’t buy anything from Abercrombie & Fitch for anyone over the age of 18.)
Moolah: $20-$70

Get your mind out of the gutter! These things are great after tense days at the office. And cheap, too!
Pesos: $30

This is a decent hair-removal tool for areas south of the face. It gets the job done, nothing fancy, but I’d only get this for someone you know really wants one, or for a friend who is perpetually complaining about his hair-removal regimen.
Dough: $35

A decent bottle of wine, a gift certificate to a nice restaurant, and tickets afterwards to a movie or a show for your friend and a special guest. What could be more thoughtful?
Grand total: $75+

For the guy who truly has everything, consider making a donation in your friend’s name to a charity he supports. You’ll both feel warm and fuzzy, and you’ll be doing something to make the world a better place.
Cost: Priceless

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