22 things I liked about 2022

Years go by way faster as you get older. It is extremely different than when you are in school and had a routine similar to your peers whom you say pretty much every day. That was when days moved slower and you had relatively lesser worries (no rent to pay!). But as you grow older and start living independently – you realize that life is what you make of it. From the place you stay, your friends, and how frequently you go out coupled with a solid 9-5 job one year is already gone before you know it. 

Every year has its share of good and bad tipping more to either side every year. Personally, this year was not the best for me with too many quiet repetitive days, doing nothing, and slightly declined mental health and sometimes it was shitty. So if this year was so shitty for me, why create this list?

• To remind me that even though I felt this year was shitty, there were at least 22 moments which I am happy about and be grateful for them

• Because I’m bored, have nothing better to do or look forward to on a Monday night

• I have always wanted to start writing but could never bring myself to write something long asf.

Moving on...

1. Meeting my friends and family

I started my year with a trip to India and spent a lot of time with my family and friends. After living in the US, seeing everyone after one year is cathartic. Seeing the increasingly pronounced wrinkles on your grandparents every time I visit always sinks my heart for a moment but I cherish every minute I spend with them. Meeting friends in India is always fun, there are a few with whom I seldom talk while I’m in the US, and we kind of hit a “pause” on what’s going on whenever we don’t meet (except the big things!) and then unpause when we meet and spend a lot of time catching up - it’s fun and kind and our friendship is going strong. I wonder if others experience

2. Getting hitched

After being with her for 8+ years, finally made it official. Never doubted it. The perfect complement in my life. Part of our families was also present which made it a great occasion for everyone to get to know each other and made it even more special. I didn’t propose – because we had decided to stay together long back without having a conversation about it. 

It felt just right.

3. Reliving my master’s life

Imagine moving to four apartments in six months. Well, that’s what my friend did because of a combination of factors a new job, getting another one and moving back to the bay area, lease skirmishes, etc. I offered him to move in with me and crash for a couple of months similar to how we used to stay while we did our master’s. It was the best throwback by sharing a room, talking till 3 am about nothing, getting drunk, high (at the same time), and eating a mountain of wings. It was the perfect and most convenient and filtered trip down memory lane with all the good parts. We did all the things that we did back then except now we had more money. Solid A+.

4. Cooking My Heart Out

Whenever you ask someone what’s their plan when they visit India, they will 100% say “oh and I can’t wait to eat at…”. Most Indians love food with a passion, I know I do. The Indian food in restaurants here just doesn’t have the OG taste. While that’s understandable, that does not work for two roommates who get a 12 AM hankering for biryani. 

5. Learning to drive

I landed in the US on August 2nd, 2018, and sat behind the wheel of a car on May 1st, 2022. One of my biggest regrets is that I didn’t learn to drive sooner. But in my defense, I lived in Downtown San Jose for the first two years in the US where public transportation was abundant. COVID added one more year of driving apathy in 2020 and my 2021 ledger is misplaced. Although I’m proud of the fact that I learned to drive on May 1st and passed my driver’s test on May 22nd on my first try! Or should I just feel normal because so many people drive? Either way, I was the only one amongst my friends to do it on the first try so it felt kinda good (although massive points to them to teach me to drive!). My days of sitting in the passenger seat are over. 

6. First people to visit us in Irvine

While leaving San Jose after being here for four years and moving to Irvine with my fiancee was difficult, my roommate and his girlfriend offered to drop us off at Irvine and we managed to do a quick SoCal trip on a long weekend. Saying goodbye to them was kind of sealing that it was only me and my fiancee now and my “roommate days” were over. While happy, any change needs time to process. Them coming here made it a lot better.

7. Being stranded at sea

We took a weekend trip to San Diego because I wanted to try ocean kayaking. Midway we decided to turn back because my girlfriend wasn’t feeling too good. While the rest of the group went inside the cave there. We were alone, paddling and trying to make our way back to the shore with no one in sight. The only thing going on in my mind was neither of us should fall into the water. Thrilling for me, not so much for her. Someone did not remove their life jacket even as we were walking back. 

8. Family

After getting a visa in 2019, my parents could finally visit me and my fiance in 2022 for a month. It was perfect. I am kinda glad they did not come to visit when I was living with roommates. I’ve noticed the apartment has inherent cleanliness when you live with your SO. After many vacations with my family, I was glad I could pay for this one. Also made me appreciate my dad more because bankrolling a vacation for 4 isn’t cheap! He never let it show.

9. 3 states in one day

California → Vegas → Arizona. One of the best road trips since I started driving two months ago. My frame of reference is very tiny.

10. 8 years and going strong

4 years in-person and 4 years virtually. When my two friends from undergrad came to visit (one from frickkin Maryland) I didn’t think much of it initially except as a good time to bond. But one day when the four of us were chilling in our apartment I couldn’t believe we knew each other for eight years. EIGHT! And we still managed to meet and hang out! Preserve friendships like these.

11. My first concert

In my 26 years of existence, I had never seen a concert. Not even a small indie one. I just didn’t see what was the hype. Finally bit the bullet and saw AR Rahman live in LA. It was one of the best concert experiences with Rahman giving it his 110%. Hearing all the songs you have grown up listening to, distilled into three hours of musical magic was something else. However, I’ll go to a concert only if I get really good seats like the $$$ ones, otherwise, it’s just like seeing random people perform. It could be any random person with playback and you would never know!

12. Baby on board

“Have fun before you have kids” – now imagine hearing that twice over. Both of our close family members recently had kids. While I felt happy for them, I couldn’t help but wonder whether post my engagement and the eventual wedding is this path that is already written for me. Will I also have the urge to start a family? Let’s just cross that bridge when it arrives…

13. Couple friends

First couples trip that we did. Fun times. Colorado is a fun place if you know where to go. Should do more of these. I feel as we grow older and people start forming pairs of two, homogeneous friend group trips would cease and could be replaced with couple friends going on trips…just a theory…intrigued to see how it unfolds.

14. Dubai

An impromptu 5-day Dubai trip was one of the highlights of this year. Food, Hydrofoiling, and Skydiving with family are unbeatable. It also changed my travel philosophy permanently. Now for every trip, I want to do something completely different and a thrilling activity. I don’t want to see all the national parks or major cities. I want to see net new things and experience things I haven’t seen before. No, I do not want to go to another museum. I do not want to hike up another hill to see a similar mountain and waterfall. 

15. Skydiving

This deserved its moment. I was googling skydiving in Dubai since I was in the 8th grade and it finally happened! It seems unreal and is hands down one of the best views to skydive at! 

16. The one with the boys

We had a bachelor party for one of my friends in LA. I will only say it was a fun night.

17. The one time I woke up at 5 am

I’m not a late bloomer by any means but we decided to see the sunrise from one of the more scenic spots in Irvine. Felt great to wake up early and go. Sunrises perfectly summarize the law of diminishing returns where from the second the sun rises my interest dropped like a rock. Still, it was the first time I woke up so early this year. Felt great!

18. Pitstops

We were planning to have a quiet thanksgiving. Turned out to be not so quiet when two of our friends from the bay area had planned a trip to SoCal so we invited them over to stay for their trip. I hadn’t seen them for 6 months and catching up felt great! Another friend made a brief pit stop. There is just something about seeing people IRL that remote / video calling cannot replicate. The goal for 2023 is to 10x my connections and double down on social events.

19. Learning to love hiking

“You are the average of the 5 people you hand out with”. I was never a big hiking guy but when a majority of your friends like it’s bound to rub off on you in some manner. Well, I’m already making plans to hike Half Dome in 2023. 

20. Reconnecting with the ocean

Living in Southern California has a good perk the beach is a lot accessible and friendly-er to swim in compared to the bay area. One thing I will miss when I move out from here.

21. It’s just a job?

Hit my first anniversary as a PM. Seemed like a pipe dream in 2019 and here I am one year into it. The new-role shine might wear off but you figure out there is nothing you’d rather do for a living right now and it was in the best interest of you and your hypothetical frustrated colleagues that you are not a software engineer. Very grateful.

22. Moving in with my girlfriend 

After being in a long-distance relationship for three years we finally had the chance to move in together. One of the best things to happen this year.