Dear World: Being an Adult is Largely a Very Long Game of Trying to Not Get F*cked Over
10/21/2025
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hi, i'm ash!
Creator of the New Travel & Design Series, 'OTHER PEOPLE'S HOUSES.'
Travel writer & host, cultural explorer, and architecture & interiors freak.
Meet ash >
The Newsletter
Every week, we're exploring global culture through the lens of the home. From floorplans to fixtures, we examine how houses are built, designed, and decorated around the world (with a side of sass, of course!)
The Podcast
The only podcast where we pass on the pyramids and poke around in the plumbing. Iβm Ash, and I'm, exploring the strange, smart, and wonderful ways houses are built, designed, and decorated around the world.
The Books
A new series of OTHER PEOPLE'S HOUSES books designed to help you try on a new life in different places around the worldβby getting to "go behind closed doors" inside local homes to discover what it's really like to live there.
I see a TED Talk in your future! Color me inspired. And yes, doors are indeed insanely expensive.
Talk about shitting your pants! Not that we were talking about that. π€£ But we would be if I went anywhere NEAR a TED talk, LOLLLL.
Ok I just binged 3 newsletters when I was supposed to be doing adulty work stuff- and I don’t regret a moment of it! What I (slightly) regret is learning that voles are not in fact a Beatrix Potter – like character and in fact are basically mice from a different mother. Well done on the doors- and I’m absolutely invested in the Bug Guy saga- have you ever thought of doing a YouTube shorts series like Jill Bearup has done (and is now doing with “The Author” and “Latest Heroine” in a “Sci-fi Story”)? I would SO watch every episode!!!
Wow – SO just went down a rabbithole!!!!!!!!! Thanks for recommending her – I’m πππππππππππππππππ. I’ve been making videos for a completely unrelated project with the township here, and having an absolute ball – SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT KIND OF WILD SHIT I COULD COME UP WITH. ha!!!!!!!!!
Haha well it’s only fair to send you down a rabbit hole since you sent me down one π But you’re absolutely welcome- and PLEASE DO IT!!!!
I definitely agree home ownership was a crash course in personal development of sorts. Also felt like I was single-handedly dismantling the patriarchy every time I was dealing with a home repair and home maintenance issue. And if given the option, I would have probably divorced myself during the insanity-inducing, whole house renovation.
Just wanted to tell you that Sabbaticalism is a fantastic name, and I instantly clicked on your substack because of it!
“I would have probably divorced myself.” LOL. This was your dad’s place, right? I remember you talking about the outdated kitchen!
Yes, what started out as update-the-kitchen project quickly turned into a whole house reno. Because once you update one part of the house, it draws attention to the parts that are not updated. It’s a slippery slope.
“sharpens her eyeliner with the same knife she uses to cut people out of her life”
I came here to say to type this same thing. Brilliant line, right???!! π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£
And “soft pretzel with plumbing”. In one post!
Door Guy #1 sounds like misogyny and sour breath. Door Guy #2 sounds like he knows what he’s doing. Bug Guy sounds like insecurity and too much time around chemicals. Window World sound like Ash Ambirge should’ve offered some rebrand tips in exchange for 3 doors and one window that opens.
“Misogyny and sour breath!” BAAAHAHA. This line made me guffaw. π€£ Andβyou have no idea how I’d love to get my hands on a national brand like that. They could be doing so much more business if they tilted their brand toward the largest % of homeowners up and coming: millllllennnniallllllsssss!
brilliant! Adult life is definitely a prolonged exercise of avoiding being shafted. The most effective way I’ve found of saying “no” is the response used by Bartleby The Scrivener: “I would prefer not to.”
“I would prefer not to” is going in my arsenal!!!!!!!!!! ππππππ
It is both assertive and polite π