At some point, I became the guy who politely asks not to receive presents for birthdays, anniversaries, or Christmas. It's not a tough-guy thing-—I've just reached a stage in life where I tend to buy what I need (and want) when I need it. My interests are pretty specific, and I'm probably not diving into any brand-new hobbies anytime soon. My guess is you probably know somebody exactly like me, and so I wanted to highlight a few recent gifts that I have received lately which I use every day.
Shaving with a Safety Razor
As I've gotten older, certain rituals of life have become more interesting. One example is shaving. Comically I didn't have to shave more than once a week until 30, at which point the novelty became a chore, and frankly an expensive one at that. I bought into the whole two/three/four/seven blades are better thing, then alternated between the brands as the price dictated, and finally switched to Harry's and Dollar Shave Club once they made the genius move of offering the same blades at a lower price.
But in the end even these discount blades were really expensive, and I still hated shaving. Then I discovered the straight razor. I had no idea you could shave with an actual razor blade! And these things are sharp and therefore dangerous. And you know what that makes guys who shave with them? Also dangerous.
So last year a MERKUR 23C showed up under the Christmas tree, and after two weeks of working up the courage to use it, I finally did. This thing is so sharp that every time I lift it to my face I'm convinced a trip to the emergency room is just around the corner.
Yet incredibly I'm still alive! I bought some shaving cream, watched a few YouTube videos, and now I'm hooked. I'll never go back to disposable razors, and will clearly save hundreds of dollars over the next few years. Best of all, I feel like John Wayne every time that blade touches this rugged skin.
Drinking Coffee the Way Our Ancestors Did
Some guys like to go to the gym, while others fish the nation's waterways? Me? I enjoy experimenting with complicated ways to brew coffee.
These days, that complicated way is via a Hario V60 ceramic coffee dripper. This process involves spooning coffee into a paper filter which is placed inside the ceramic dripper, boiling water, and then oh-so-gently pouring that water atop the coffee, letting it seep through over the course of 5-7 minutes.
Did our ancestors actually do it this way? I have no idea. But it is fun and makes for an exceptionally strong cup of coffee.
Studying Cold War History
A friend recently told me about a meme that says once a guy turns 40 he must either get into World War II history or smoking meats. I say why not both?
Personally though, while I love reading about a World War II battle as much as the next guy, what I'm really into is Cold War history. Trenchcoats, Matthew Broderick portraying a brilliant hacker in the movie War Games, the potential for armageddon... This era really did have it all.
In fact I love Cold War history so much that I created a "Cold War in a box" subscription service that delivers reproductions of Cold War-era historical speeches, letters, and other documents to subscribers' mailboxes. Recipients receive six packages over the course of three months, with each containing information about a specific event in Cold War history, along with fun items like stamps, stickers, coins, photos, and maps.
If you know somebody who loves history and receiving fun things in the mail, a gift subscription is something they won't soon forget.
Ready to Solve Your Gift-Giving Challenge?
If you've got a history buff or spy novel enthusiast in your life who "doesn't want anything," consider giving them a SpiesInDC subscription. It's the perfect way to respect their "no gifts" stance while still showing you care with something they'll genuinely appreciate.
Subscribe now to give a gift they won't expect but will definitely enjoy.