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Tonight, while hand-washing my dishes like I have for the past three years, I checked in with myself for the umpteenth time about buying a dishwasher. I have a minuscule kitchen and yet, there is room for one.

But I decided to try life without one a few years back and now, it’s strange, but I find washing dishes rather relaxing. I also feel that, if memory serves, a dishwasher is a fair share of work, too. Just different work: scraping, loading, unloading.

The key to hand washing dishes, however, is to use very warm-to-hot water, something not everyone can do. But I can. My family jokes with me that I’m impervious to heat – it’s weird and true – so I feel I wash my plates and such with germ-killing water.

Here is some other stuff I don’t have, nor do I want.

A microwave. Haven’t had one of those in three years and I don’t miss it at all. Except when baking and I need to soften butter. Or on the rare occasion that I crave microwave popcorn. Ninety-nine percent of the time, now that I bought a double-boiler for warming up leftovers and a Stir Crazy popper which is just a lot of fun to have, I don’t miss the nukebox. And I like the extra counter space in my afore-mentioned minuscule kitchen.

A television. Having a laptop is plenty for me and my TV needs. Between Netfix and Hulu I am able to check in with shows and watch entire series. I prefer the aesthetic of my living room without a television and lots of bookshelves instead. I also own a digital projector to connect to my laptop and for family movie nights we watch movies on a roll-up screen. Once in a while, I remember my Sunday night routine from years past of watching my favorite HBO shows as an enjoyable way to close out the weekend and I miss it for a second, but I think I’m too cheap these days to pay for cable anyway.

Knick-knacks of any kind. I really strive to keep my house de-cluttered, but it's so easy to junk it up with stuff. And by "junk" I mean really cool stuff found in shops or thrift stores or rummage sales. I have forced myself not to buy any more knick-knacky type things unless I am willing to let go of a kick-knacky type thing.

However, I’m an American and so, by definition, I am wired to want to buy stuff. And there’s plenty of stuff I want to buy. Here are a few things that top my long list.

Recording equipment. I am slowly turning my basement into a practice / recording space. I’m not exactly sure what kind of musical projects I’ll embark on – I’m currently not even in a band – but I like the idea of recording music in my own home. And I think, maybe, my kids will appreciate it when they are older. Sometimes I daydream about them having band practice in my basement and I get really excited. As long as the sex and drugs stay away, I’ll provide the rock ‘n’ roll for them.

Skylights. My kitchen is dark and would be the ideal location for a couple of skylights in the roof. I have always wanted a house with skylights. One of the places I lived in with my parents had one and when I was a kid I would stand under it when it rained and watch the drops splat. It was fun.

A fireplace. While on the subject of light, I would love a wood-burning fireplace. Since I don’t have a built-in one or space for a large one, I would be interested in a smaller type. I am particularly fond of the funky Malm style, but they’re kinda pricey. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the glow of my little fake fireplace, but someday, I’d prefer something that is s’more friendly.