Dawn and I stopped by Mattress Discounters on Saturday morning and bought a new mattress set. After discovering our comfort, we chose neither the tight top nor the pillow top, but the soft top. Then, among the soft tops, we chose the Simmons Beautyrest from the Spa Collection.

We then arranged for delivery for the following Monday, after plunking down eleven-hundred dollars. This puts the mattress and box spring set into the prestigious category of most expensive item in the house. Yes, more than the washer and dryer. About twice as expensive as the refrigerator.

It’s of course hard to compare such things, but I have to note that in 2001 and 2002, in my apartment at Columbia Plaza, I was sleeping quite contentedly on a $60 futon.