EXISTENTIAL COMICS: WAS EPICURUS REALLY A HEDONIST?

The Epicureans, despite being avowed hedonists in the modern connotations of the word, weren't really interested in the sort of sensual pleasure that we think of as hedonism. They believed that the most pleasurable life mostly consisted of avoiding pain and unpleasantness by leading a simple, tranquil life free of worries and suffering. The best kinds of pleasures were not excessive ones that could lead to displeasure down the line (such as hangovers), but simple pleasures that fulfill basic desires (hunger, sleep, etc).
Likewise you should avoid excessive or unnecessary desires such as greed, lust, and domination over others. Their prescribed path might be viewed as boring by many modern and ancient readers: doing gardening, meditating, and avoid politics and conflict. Epicurus said that he could be satisfied with merely water, bread, weak wine and a “pot of cheese.”