On weekdays, I bounce between “motivated days” and “absolutely-not-today days,” the same ones I wrote about earlier. And because my workplace rarely gives consecutive days off, a two-day break is basically a national holiday for me. So yes—I planned it properly, days in advance. When the opportunity is this rare, you treat it with respect.
I used to think “Two days off = I must do SOMETHING big.” Camping trips, overnight ski trips, stuffing my schedule to the max. But this time… things took a different turn.
Day 1: Switch of Plans — Smelt Fishing & BBQ
The camping trip I had originally planned got canceled thanks to a surprise typhoon on Day 2. So I changed gears and went smelt fishing instead. We took a small boat out on the lake, caught wakasagi with friends, turned them into fresh tempura, and enjoyed a lakeside BBQ. Since my friend was driving, I had no reason to hold back—yes, the lunch beer was immediate.
The menu of the day: crispy wakasagi, pine-scale fried tilefish I caught last week, homemade spare ribs from a friend, vinegared mackerel made from an accidental bycatch, and frankfurters (which are criminally good when grilled over charcoal). Because it was cold, we finished with hotpot ramen, and the chicken in the Dutch oven turned into that perfect combo: tender inside, crispy outside. Absolutely divine. I’ll share the exact recipes soon.
To wrap it up, we roasted marshmallows, watched the sunset, ended with sparkler fireworks, cleaned up, dumped the trash, and I headed straight to bed the moment I got home.
Day 2: A Slow, Ideal Weekend
I slept until 9 a.m., then finally dragged myself out of bed to start cleaning. Halfway through, I remembered I had promised to pick up some firewood, so I stopped by a friend’s place. We ended up grabbing lunch together—Chinese food, unexpectedly delicious. These unplanned meals feel weirdly comforting.
On the way back, I discovered a discount drink shop with great prices and an impressive selection. With prices rising everywhere, I’m thinking of writing a post on bulk-buying tips and where to find the best deals.
After coming home, I unloaded a car full of firewood and drinks, then immediately took a nap. Amazing. I finally understand the true value of “doing nothing time.” After waking up, I finished cleaning the fishing gear and BBQ equipment, then spent the evening milling brown rice while having a drink (→ yes, I’ve started a brown-rice lifestyle). I watched a movie, took a bath, and called it a day. End of long-awaited break.
Thoughts on the Two Days Off
When I used to work more intensely, I always felt I had to be “active” on my days off. But now, if a plan gets canceled and I still feel like I enjoyed the day… that actually feels ideal. Both the active days outside and the quiet days at home are part of my “living time.”
This long break made me realize that maybe the ideal FIRE lifestyle isn’t about packing the schedule with activities, but learning to enjoy the empty spaces too. It’s great to chase new hobbies and fun experiences, but savoring the afterglow—that might be just as important.
I’m not fluent in English, but I really wanted to share this story.
So I tried my best using translation tools to write this post.
If you find anything that sounds strange, unnatural, or offensive,
please let me know in the comments.
I’ll check it carefully, translate your feedback, and fix it.
Thank you for reading!
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