And the Rains Came

As most of my readers are aware, we are experiencing rain and snow of biblical proportions here in California. After four years of below normal accumulations, the moisture is much needed and gratefully accepted by most. But even drought relief comes with a price.

This is brought to my attention by Red, my big tomcat companion. Multiple times each day he goes to the patio door and asks for me to open it. Which I do. After providing food and a warm lap, opening doors is my next most important duty. But I have not been doing a very good job lately. When I open the door he is presented with driving rain and gusty winds. He sits and looks out at the weather, then he looks at me with a long suffering disdain, lastly he gets up and walks away from the patio door and toward the front entry door where the performance is repeated. Red is definitely being inconvenience by drought relief.

I would think his behavior exceptional, except this same scenario was described in 1957 by Robert Heinlein in his wonderful book, The Door into Summer. Petronius the Arbiter (a.k.a. Pete) is a similar tomcat who is not fond of winter and behaves exactly like my Red cat. They both are always looking for dry warm sunny weather on the other side of the door.

For many other residents of California, the price is much higher than mere inconvenience. A state of emergency has been declared in five California counties. A week of storms has brought 8 to 10 inches of rain to the Los Angeles-area mountains. In the Bay Area we have accumulated nearly 5 inches of rain. People have been evacuated from their homes because of the danger of mudslides. In Pacifica, 20 feet of cliffside crumbled under heavy rains, leaving an apartment building in danger of collapsing into the ocean. There has been urban and small stream flooding. Large trees have been uprooted by rain and wind, causing much damage. And sadly, a number of deaths have resulted from the brutal storms.

So while we celebrate the rain and snow, we must be aware that some are paying a very high price for our good fortune.

Live long & prosper!

New Beginnings

¡feliz año nuevo!

I am retired and beginning a whole new life in the year 2010. Some of the things I plan to do this year, I started before retirement, just so I could get "my feet wet" and have a sense of direction. It is exciting to be looking out over a brand new landscape.

Since I am not required to do anything I don't want to do, except die and pay taxes, I made a list of objectives for myself. I no longer plan on having goals. In my mind, the difference is that goals require plans of action, they require systematic progression toward completion, they require success or failure. Goals must be specific, they must be achievable and they must be measurable. Objectives on the other hand, are just things I want to do.

If I do a little or a lot of something I have succeeded in pursuing that objective, and I can continue that pursuit as long as I wish.

One objective includes studying Spanish. If it were a goal, I would be required to learn to speak Spanish with some predetermined degree of fluency. As an objective, I may continue to study the language and may or may not become fluent. No pressure.

Another objective is to work on Joe's memoirs. If it were a goal, I would be required to finish and publish Letters to Ethan. Even if that never happens I will still leave my grandson memories of his granddad.

Other objectives include clearing some of the clutter from my life, travel to places near and far, and now that I have more time enjoy more physical exercise.

For sixty-plus years I have been goal oriented. I have worked to accomplish specific goals by a specific time using a well thought out plan. And I always measured by my success or failure. I have divested myself of all that pressure and compulsion.

Chris Dunbar on her website Creativity Portal explains "When people say, 'I have no idea what I want to do,' I smile and think, yes you do. Just sit quietly with yourself and listen. You'll feel it. Whatever it is that excites you when you think about it, that thing that brings you joy and creative fulfillment when you act on it, that's what you want to do. And sometimes, you'll make remarkable, puzzling decisions in order to do it."

This is what I have done and is what I am pursuing.

Live Long & Prosper!