clarifications + jubilation + elections
(this news item posted on January.20.2008)
clarifications
So I write, often, about the whole not having a car thing. Probably because it's become just a reality of life to me yet people seem to be constantly astounded by it. I talk about it in the hopes that it might one day seem normal, and better still: possible, to others. But, for the sake of disclosure, I feel obligated to confess that I had a lot of life factors that made it easy for me to go carless.
The biggest thing was that when we traded in our van to help a friend buy a car, I had no particular place to go. I became "self-employed" and for six months or so the only place I needed to go was to buy groceries and that was easy enough to walk to. Moreover, I had lots of money socked away so I could afford to pay $90 to rent a car any time I needed. I probably ended up doing that every other month or so and thought little of it. Anyway, I'm just saying that even though I get on a rant now and then about never owning a car, I am aware that I had advantages that helped me get there. Not the least of which was a free bike or two from my uncle Walter after I'd been walking a while.
jubilation
So in my book writing I tend to write a lot about something being missing from the world. Some kind of human connection that's hard to define because it's rarely seen but is nevertheless missing.
During the month of January I've encountered people close to me being suddenly and unexpectedly joyful. Laughing and smiling and I noticed myself just falling right in and responding in kind. I know the world is possible where we can experience wonderment and mirth easily and often, and it's nice to see glimmers of it along the way to help keep the eyes on the prize.
elections
So, now it's 2008. I'm still a registered Green. The Green Party still has Ten key values that I think are a solid foundation to build a movement on. Today I watched portions of the GP candidate debate and I very much enjoyed it. If you'd like to do so, here's a link:
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/president/sf_debate.php
Be Peace,
-Alex
So I write, often, about the whole not having a car thing. Probably because it's become just a reality of life to me yet people seem to be constantly astounded by it. I talk about it in the hopes that it might one day seem normal, and better still: possible, to others. But, for the sake of disclosure, I feel obligated to confess that I had a lot of life factors that made it easy for me to go carless.
The biggest thing was that when we traded in our van to help a friend buy a car, I had no particular place to go. I became "self-employed" and for six months or so the only place I needed to go was to buy groceries and that was easy enough to walk to. Moreover, I had lots of money socked away so I could afford to pay $90 to rent a car any time I needed. I probably ended up doing that every other month or so and thought little of it. Anyway, I'm just saying that even though I get on a rant now and then about never owning a car, I am aware that I had advantages that helped me get there. Not the least of which was a free bike or two from my uncle Walter after I'd been walking a while.
jubilation
So in my book writing I tend to write a lot about something being missing from the world. Some kind of human connection that's hard to define because it's rarely seen but is nevertheless missing.
During the month of January I've encountered people close to me being suddenly and unexpectedly joyful. Laughing and smiling and I noticed myself just falling right in and responding in kind. I know the world is possible where we can experience wonderment and mirth easily and often, and it's nice to see glimmers of it along the way to help keep the eyes on the prize.
elections
So, now it's 2008. I'm still a registered Green. The Green Party still has Ten key values that I think are a solid foundation to build a movement on. Today I watched portions of the GP candidate debate and I very much enjoyed it. If you'd like to do so, here's a link:
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/president/sf_debate.php
Be Peace,
-Alex
