Piano over keyboard, no contest (if financially feasible). Better resale value, too.

Adulthood: furniture. I knew maried professors who had a little girl when I was a grad student, and they had this dining room set that was basically patio furniture. I knew then that PhDs and progeny notwithstanding, they were not adults. (Okay, I knew that already. We used to say they should have had a terrarium instead of a daughter. We were mean, and also childless.)

Allyson, I sometimes call my sister's voicemail and let Owen leave messages for her, in case of Very Bad Days. She saves them and will go back and listen if she's feeling particulary low.

Well, yes. Coffee's perfect mate is clearly sweet & low.

I used to be tried and true Half & Half girl, until I met my new, Coffeemate Hazelnut master.

What trappings define adulthood for you guys?

I don't know. Arguing with AT&T about your cable bill. Voluntarily flipping your mattress. Eating cake for dinner because you can. Nobody taking care of your problems for you.

bon bon... I was good until you got to sparkling convo.

Adulthood: durable goods. Such as a new fridge. a washer and dryer. A good mattress with a nice bedframe.

And, like bon bon, events. Having a nicely done Thanksgiving meal in your own place.

ETA I felt like a grown up the first (and maybe last) time I hosted my parents for thanksgiving.

how do you get the ground coffee into the filtery thing in the first place?

I pour it directly from the cannister/bag.

What trappings define adulthood for you guys?

Stuff in my name: bills, checks, credit cards savings accounts etc.

Though I often say that my favorite adult defining thing is that if I want to go get an icee and Kit Kat at 2 in the morning, or go wander the Walgreens, I can!

What trappings define adulthood for you guys?

Going to a job that I often can't stand because if I didn't, we'd be out in the street. Playing the Elmo CD for the 4th time. Turning down free tickets to live shows because I have to be up in the morning. Putting off buying a new amp until I've saved for it.

What trappings define adulthood for you guys?

Life insurance.

I'm going against everyone and say keyboard. - if you get someone that really wants to play , you can get a piano when they want one. and my main reason - getting rid of a paino or organ , even for free seems to be really difficult around here, unless it is in perfect shape. Also - I'm going to add the expense of a regular piano tuner. You want one, really. Plus , ther eare things they can do with the keyboard - like plug it into the computer and ( with the proper software) 'write ' their own music. and soundeffects might capture there interest in music as well.

Yeah, a great thing about being an adult is that nobody (excluding legal authorities and the like) can tell you what to do, and one of the worst things about being adult is realizing that you still can't do everything you want.

Yeah, a great thing about being an adult is that nobody (excluding legal authorities and the like) can tell you what to do, and one of the worst things about being adult is realizing that you still can't do everything you want.

I am saving this for my kids when they are teenagers.