My husband of 44 years is a retired English professor who lives for reading The New York Times and playing cribbage on his phone. He cooks, shops, and plays guitar. If he needs or wants anything, he just buys it. After all these years, I’ve tried gifting experiences, but he’s a homebody introvert who’d rather watch baseball on TV. Please help! — P. S.
From gifting expert Mari Uyehara:
I grew up in the five college area of Western Massachusetts, so your husband sounds quite familiar. We’ve recommended the NYT birthday books before, but he might especially appreciate one.
For cooks, the possibilities are endless. This ultra-thin Japanese-style knife makes dicing veggies a breeze. Spices lose their potency, so a cabinet refresh from this single-origin purveyor could kick his meals into a new dimension. A decadent jamon and cheese sampler, array of extra-fancy tinned fish, or Japanese snack box would bring some novelty to your doorstep.
Considering the season, you could make your surroundings a bit more interesting, with something like a smart bird feeder (along with this backyard birding book by Amy Tan), a wildlife camera, or a yuzu tree. If he has little motivation to venture far afield, might as well bring the details of your home life into sharper focus.
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