It’s safe to say that as people get older, they tend to fall into a predictable routine in order to help manage their stress and energy levels. That’s largely because as you age, the physical strength you had when you were younger usually begins to diminish over time. This typically means that older folks tend to have a more sedentary day-to-day life compared to the younger generation. With that in mind, it’s always great seeing older folks who’re still thriving, much like this 80-year-old Pennsylvania man — named Raymond Paulshock — who has allegedly eaten lunch everyday at Shady Maple Smorgasbord for the last 40 years. Not only has it been a boon for the patron’s social life, but he claims that “it was cheaper to come here everyday than to buy groceries.”
The one-minute TikTok video opens with the description “Meet Raymond Paulshock, 80, has eaten lunch daily at Shady Maple Smorgasbord” and details Raymond’s dedication as a loyal customer to the famous buffet restaurant. “I come here everyday, from Monday through Friday.” explains Raymond. “I used to come Monday through Saturday back when they had other personnel here. It was cheaper to come here everyday than to buy groceries and eat at home. Price-wise, they come out just the same.”
Going further, the 80-year-old describes his typical routine, with a smile: “Well, I usually come here at 11 o’clock. Beat the crowd. And the buses. When I’m done, I’ll just stay in here till maybe 2 o’clock.” Interestingly, Raymond goes on to outline how the experience was also a helpful way to socialise with others, stating, “There used to be a lot of people here that I used to know real good. But they’re passed away now, so they’re not here anymore, so they’re gone. But there’s a lot of new people come in here now that I get to know, you know. And the people come over here. And they’ll say ‘Hi, Ray’, you know, and I’ll say something like, the person who just left? I don’t know them. But they know me. ‘Cause I’m here all the time.”
With Raymond’s sweet and wholesome story blowing up online, many viewers took to the comments section to share their feelings. On TikTok, one user declared, “give this man a free pass for the rest of his life.” while another commenter noted the usefulness of the social aspect of what he does, adding, “Spending hours buying groceries, putting them away, cooking, doing dishes, using soap & hot water. He coming out ahead like this. Plus he gets to socialize instead of eating alone” Over on Reddit, however, one thoughtful netizen summed things up succinctly, penning, “It probably makes him happier to get what ever kind of food he wants and also socialize with people etc rather than meal plan, shop, prep, cook and clean up alone by himself. I totally get it. And it reminds me of my grandparents who used to always go to the same place for coffee every morning for years. Some people just have little habits that make them happy and i appreciate that. Feeling content is something to strive for really.”
