There are certain things in life that most people take for granted. We tend to do things in a certain way, in a certain order, according to a certain set of rules.

I abide by these tenets, mostly, but sometimes I choose to veer off track and make my own path.

I’ve never been one to follow the crowd. If something doesn’t make logical sense to me, I opt out. As I complete a self-assessment, I realize many of these opt-outs occur in the kitchen.

I love to cook, but I have a hard time with unnecessary details. Preheating the oven, for instance: I see this as a waste of both time and energy (for both me and my oven). The same goes for choosing different oven temperatures for different dishes. I’ve found that pretty much everything succeeds at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, so that’s the temperature I use. It’s worked so far. Taking the oven-temperature concept one step further: I never use the slow cooker on the low setting. I think that’s taking the whole concept of slow cooking to the extreme.

I’ve never owned a bread-maker, even when they were all the rage. I see a bread-maker as a uni-tasker and something has to be pretty awesomely fantastic to earn a uni-tasking spot in my kitchen. When I make bread, I do it the old fashioned way: I purchase frozen bread dough and let it rise in a warm oven. (And then I cook my buns at 350 degrees, duh.)

I did try the sourdough thing for a minute or two, but it was simply too much of a lifetime commitment for me. I already have a cat, and a second pet — even one made out of yeast and water — was out of the question.

Then there’s my daily caffeine routine. I never buy coffee from a coffee shop for one simple reason: I am cheap. Plus, I can brew my own Joe at home, pre-morning shower while wearing my comfy slippers and sweatshirt. It’s a win-win.

Sweatshirts and slippers, leads me to potentially the most controversial don’t of all. I don’t own even one pair of jeans. It hasn’t always been this way. I grew up wearing jeans, but somewhere about 15 or 20 years ago, I transitioned to alternatives: mostly leggings and loose-fitting pants.

I’ll never say never to perhaps owning a pair again the in the future, but right now they just feel too heavy and rigid for my lifestyle.

Another practice that has always been too heavy and rigid for my lifestyle is meticulous lawn care. I understand many homeowners take great pride in their pristine, green grass; I’m just not one of them. I’ve never been able to bring myself to care about grass and weed control. If I may be so bold, I actually enjoy dandelions.

On an up note, did you know they can be used to make wine?

Speaking of wine, I have a final confession to make - which feels appropriate since this column has been all about confessions. Get ready, because this one’s a doozy.

For years I rejected the brew-a-cup-at-a-time pod coffee makers. They seemed over-the top and wasteful. (All that plastic!) Then I took a look at my lifestyle. I drink one cup of coffee each morning. I used to brew a whole pot. I’d try to refrigerate the leftovers, but we all know that part of the allure of coffee is that fresh-brewed scent. Two-day-old coffee doesn’t offer the same morning magic.

So I did the unthinkable. I pivoted and got myself a single-serve pod coffee maker. I love it.

Which just goes to show that you can have dos and don’ts in life, but you should probably never say never.

Because one never knows. Especially when it comes to the quality of your morning coffee.

And dandelion wine. That might just be next on my list.

— Jill Pertler’s column Slices of Life appears occasionally in the Times. She can be reached at slicescolumn@gmail.com.