> I tend to go multiple years between eating at a restaurant of any kind
Man, not to derail from the topic, but it never ceases to amaze me how varied our lifestyles can be. My wife and I have always loved going out to eat at restaurants, it would be a strange week where we didn't go out at least once.
Going years between restaurants, including fast food, is pretty extreme. But if I leave out travel, eating even takeout is a maybe a twice a month sort of thing. I could certainly afford to do so more often but I mostly can’t be bothered and there aren’t a lot of great options around where I live and plenty of options to prepare a 20 minute meal at home.
When I grew up in the 80s in a typical middle class suburban family, restaurants were a real rare treat. Like something you did maybe once a year or so on birthdays or very special occasions. I've got to believe this whole "restaurant for lunch every day and for dinner twice a week" practice is relatively recent, and maybe limited to cities, at least in the USA (not sure about other countries).
As for my family, we've basically stopped going. It's just gotten ridiculous. The various hidden service charges, and tipping which has gotten way out of control (like really? you expect 25% for bringing me a microwaved Sysco meal?). $100 used to get you an amazing meal/experience for two, like something worthy of an Anniversary. Today, after all the taxes, tips, and fees, you can easily drop that for a mediocre Olive Garden "experience".
The mainstream just hasn't caught up to the varied choices the world offers to individuals now, and that makes the bell curve seem a lot more flat than it actually is.
And what percentage of the US population has read a book in the past year? In the past 3 years? And what percentage can’t imagine not having access to live TV in some manner?
I’m sure a lot of people have behaviors that are totally alien to a large group.
We could expand that to other activities that I imagine a large segment of the population has never gone to.
Man, not to derail from the topic, but it never ceases to amaze me how varied our lifestyles can be. My wife and I have always loved going out to eat at restaurants, it would be a strange week where we didn't go out at least once.