This year wasn’t the best nor the worst. With rising costs, I would say this is the first year in my life where I cut back my spending to keep with my savings rate. I missed out on eating out and more travel. The modest amount of more income I received in 2025 vs 2024 did not cover inflation. I don’t remember that ever happening in my professional life. Both my kids this year thrived in their own ways, which, beyond making me proud, allowed me more freedom in my life.

I read about 33 books this year. I watched around 30 movies and 25 TV Series. I biked nearly 2,000 miles, walked over 630 miles and played sports (primarily beach volleyball, basketball, snowboarding) about 95 times. I played golf about 40 times (course or went to the range) – for sure my highest amount in my lifetime, meaning, I’m getting old! I went on about eight vacations, ranging from 4 days to two weeks. And according to Spotify, I listened to about 35,000 mins of music this year.

Here’s what I considered the best of what I consumed this year.

2025
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Music

• Deadbeat – Tame Impala
• Bonnet of Pins – Matt Berninger
• Cherry Pie – Fazerdaze
• Backseat – Balu Brigada
• Memory of a Day – Phantogram

Movies

• Sinners
• Queen of Everest
• One Battle after Another
• Challengers

TV

• Adolescence
• Andor
• Pluribus
• The Rehearsal Season 2
• Narcos

Stand Up

• Love you (Netflix) – Ronny Chieng
• Ridiculous (Atlanta, GA) – Louis CK
• Alive and Unwell (June 13th, St Pete, Fl) – Nikki Glaser
• Mister Whatever (Dec 9th, St Pete, Fl) – John Mulaney

Books

• Why We Sleep – Walker
• Night of the Grizzlies – Olsen
• Paved Paradise – Grabar
• Emerald Mile – Fedarko
• Wide Wide Sea – Sides

Events

• Phantogram – Janus Live, St Pete – Oct 16th
• 100 Mile Bike Ride – Jan 18th
• Day 5 of Aquarius Hut Trail, Utah – Sept 30th
• Florida Gators Men’s Basketball – Team SEC, NCAA Tournaments – March/April
• Panda Eating Bamboo – San Diego Zoo – July 2nd

Best Food

• “Tampa Girl” Empenadas – Armateur Works, Tampa
• Cafe Con Leche – La Segunda, St Pete
• Egg, Cheese, Prosciutto breakfast Sandwich – The Crumb Factory, St Pete
• Mole appetizer at Los Danzantes – Oaxaca Mexico
• Burger – Congac, St Pete
• Pork Nachos – Urban Brew & BBQ, St Pete