Great Debate: Paycheck vs. broke-but-happy

By • November 10, 2011 • Musings, The Daily Dish

One of the guys I surf with is considering retiring — two years before he had originally planned.

He just couldn’t take his job anymore. And right now he’s sitting down with a financial planner, trying to figure out if he can retire without suffering too much financially.

But he doesn’t mind suffering (a little). As long as he’s out of that job.

This debate comes up often — especially among my friends who, save for some, hate their jobs. They talk endlessly about quitting and doing something they love, even if that requires a substantial pay cut — and, thusly, a huge lifestyle change.

But hardly any of them do it, feeling more secure and comfortable with a steady paycheck and medical benefits.

Most of us would rather suffer in a job we dislike — even hate — than take the risk and follow a passion that may or may not turn into a profitable career.

I hear people — and they seem to always be gainfully employed — say if you follow your passion, the money will come.

Why couldn’t my passion be accounting…?

But is that easier to say than do?

We hear all the success stories about people — think Samuel Adams founder Jim Kock and former Apple chairman Steve Jobs — but what about those who failed? I want to hear their stories.

So what would you rather be — and be honest: unhappy in a job that paid well and provided benefits — or broke but actually happy?

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Plancha and pop-ups

By • November 9, 2011 • Food

First, there were food trucks.

And now, pop-up restaurants.

These temporary joints — usually operated out of an existing restaurant space, coffee shop, factory or private home — are trending in the restaurant scene, with chefs using social media to spread the word about menus, locations and — most importantly — last-minute cancellations.

The most notable pop-up — one that got people buzzing — was Pig and the Lady, a experiment by Andrew Le, former sous chef of Mavro in Hank’s Haute Dogs in Kakaako.

Now even Hank’s is “popping up” in downtown Honolulu.

I’m telling you, this thing is contagious!

Well, I checked out my first pop-up restaurant experience last week at Plancha, run by Bob McGee (@planchahnl), formerly of Apartment3 and 12th Ave Grill — two delicious spots in town. He’s using Morning Glass Coffee and Cafe on East Manoa Road as his venue and a high-heat, flat-top griddle — plancha — as his tool.

The first service was in September — and it sold out before the food was ever plated. McGee’s last service is next week — and yes, that’s sold out, too.

I was lucky enough to snag a seat at last week’s lamb dinner. Here’s what the meal (and ambiance) looked like:

Plancha

Image 1 of 14

Morning Glass Coffee and Cafe was transformed into this pop-up restaurant — and the ambiance was perfect. I even enjoyed the Manoa rain that came down during dinner service. It made the evening cozy.

Find out what’s going on with Plancha by following McGee on Twitter (@planchahnl) or checking out his website.

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Today’s happy shot

By • November 8, 2011 • Happy Shots, The Dog Dish

I love it when Sunny and Indy lie in the sunbeam — and actually don’t mind each other.

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Please “like” us on Facebook at HapaDogs!

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Post-APEC: Let’s see how long this lasts

By • November 8, 2011 • Musings, The Daily Dish

The other morning I was walking down Kalakaua Avenue after an early surf session and noticed something odd.

Flowers.

Flowers and decorative plants and ti leaves — all newly planted along the street.

I guess the naupaka wasn’t enough for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), in town for the week.

The city, it seems, has been taking major steps in beautifying downtown Honolulu and Waikiki in recent weeks, all in preparation for the leaders of APEC’s 21 economies and their massive entourages. There are new palm trees lining Nimitz Highway, cleaner streets in Waikiki and a noticeable decrease in homeless communities in the areas in and around the APEC zone.


Civil Beat’s Chad Blair shows you Honolulu before and after. (Read the story here.)

Here are my two unsolicited cents:

First, I’m annoyed that the city thinks this expensive facelift is only necessary for APEC. Never mind the 800,000 people who live on Oahu — or the thousands who live, work and play in Waikiki everyday. Why would we need a beautiful place to call home?

And secondly, I’ll take bets how long the city will let this temporary beautification project go to the wayside. We watched city workers plant lush patches of Saint Augustine grass around coconut trees and delicate decorative plants in front of waterfalls — knowing full well these adornments won’t last a month after APEC packs up and leaves.

So what’s the point?

It’s a temporary fix to a long-term problem. And don’t we, the people who actually have to live here beyond APEC, deserve a solution?

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Still feeling sick; what gives?

By • November 7, 2011 • Musings, The Daily Dish

This is something like my fourth week of being sick.

And I can’t figure out what’s going on.

I surf and go to Pilates several times a week. I wash my hands regularly (and vigorously). I wear sweaters when I walk the dogs.

But for the past month or so I’ve not been able to shake this cold.

The sneezing and coughing keeps me up at night — then I don’t get enough sleep. I can barely stay awake at my desk at work. And forget about trying to get anything done at night. My nose is running so much it’s like it’s training for the marathon.

I’ve tried everything — barring prescription medication — from overdosing on vitamin C to using over-the-counter meds that have been just temporary relievers.

I ate pho. I had ramen the other day. I’m avoiding dairy. I’m trying to drink more water.

Nothing’s helping.

Anyone else feeling sick like me — or know of the miracle cure-all? Because right now, I could use something.

I bet winning Megabucks would help.

(smile)

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