![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
You may (or may not) have noticed that I haven't posted in a while.
In part, it's because I haven't had much to say. Life, such as it is, proceeds apace (or at a virtual standstill). Nothing exciting or new to report, and while I have thoughts about it all, none of them are really new.
In part, it's because I was biting back what I did have to say. Philosophical and moral arguments on a fair number of points. But that's a fragment of my old self talking. On reflection, it was clear to me that nothing good would come of it. Arguments of that nature rarely end up with either side being convinced to step away from their respective initial stances, and that's especially true when the people you're trying to convince are, when it comes to the subject at hand, moral absolutists.
Once, I'd have done it anyway. To have my say, to speak my piece, to throw my hat in the ring, to stand up for what I believe. And, really, for the joy of intellectual sparring and fencing. The challenge, the chance to explore and refine my beliefs, the chance to, maybe, against the odds, spread them, even just a little.
I find, though, that now, rather than anticipating the thrill of the fight, I don't have the patience for it. Not for arguing with the people with whom I respectfully disagree, let alone the shreks.*
*That's a term I just coined. It describes those who are, by alignment, (ostensibly, more or less) Good, but are, nevertheless, by nature, if not precisely trolls, then not so far from it, either.
So I decided that, all things considered, it was best just to leave well enough alone. I wasn't going to get anywhere good, and I was almost certain to wind up feeling angry and beleaguered. It would negatively impact the budding relationships I had, pushing us further apart on both sides.
All of which was quite sensible and rational, but the old fragment that wanted to argue chaffed at being suppressed. These are my views. This is my space. My journal. And I have to hold back? Here, of all places? (Where the opposing side, being in the majority, can and do express their views?) Some resentment brewed, and that was enough to taint my feelings towards a playground where my explorations had already been stalled... by the same argument.
Funny thing in all this is that it's a difference of degree rather than kind. At least, for the most part. In some sense, though, it's a question of absolutism vs. relativism. (Though even my dedication to relativism is kept in moderation.)
None of which is to cast blame on anyone (except maybe the shreks). It's just my own personal feelings. Explaining that internal dialogue, and why it's kept me away.
Anyway...
The other part of what's kept me from writing is - and this will be shocking, I'm sure - fatigue. I spent the last couple of weeks pushing my schedule around faster than usual so that I could be awake during the daytime for next week. (And, somehow, hopefully the three weeks after that. Not sure how I'll maintain that, but I'll do what I can.)
Because...
I'm leaving tomorrow to drive to California.
An old friend called up a few weeks ago to say that he has to drive a moving van to Berkley. He wanted some company for the trip. We talked it out over a series of phone calls, and I agreed. Unfortunately, we have to make the drive in 6 days (500 miles/day), so there won't be time to see the people or places along the way.
But... I then have a few days free, and a one-way ticket home from California isn't cheap. (And, for some stupid reason, they won't let me use frequent flier miles for a one-way ticket. And I don't feel like wasting the miles for a return leg that I'm not going to use.)
So... I'm going to double back. Take a day to rest (and maybe have lunch or something with some family friends who live right there), but then get out of California quickly, in memory of my old vow never to set foot there again. Day of driving. Day to tour around with a friend in Oregon. Day of driving. Day to poke around Idaho and then see my old college roommate (who now lives in Idaho with his family, though I haven't seen him since the wedding). Short drive to Yellowstone. Day or so to see what I can there. And then...
I'm not sure. Was going to try for Mt. Rushmore. But that would leave me in South Dakota, which is very firmly flyover territory. Turns out it's hard to get a good flight from flyover territory. Flights from Rapid City, SD aren't cheap, and they leave at 6am or 10pm. The very little in between is ridiculously expensive. And I'd have to change planes two or three times.
And I'd be flying home just about the same time that the rest of the family will start the drive up to Massachusetts for the annual family vacation there. I figure I'll have my suitcases already packed for the trip west and a day traveling is a day traveling, so I might as well fly there. But that's one more connection to a small (though reasonably busy) airport.
So I'm considering trying to fly out of Denver (one less connection, anyway) or Salt Lake City or something. Or maybe fly halfway, take an overnight, and finish the trip the next day. (Which might, ironically enough, mean staying over in New Jersey.) Gonna go take another look at the map when I'm finished posting this.
It'll be fun. It'll be exciting. It'll be tiring. It'll be something of an expense. And I'm sorry for all the people and places I won't be able to see. But I'm looking forward to it. And I'm sure I'll take plenty of pictures. I won't be online much, but maybe I'll have more to say in the time that I am. We'll see.
But that's my update for now. Where I've been and where I will be.
Back home in September, with some decisions to make, perhaps some new projects, and a giant looming question mark of a future. But never mind that. I should get packing. And planning. Oh, and a gallon of distilled water which I forgot to buy yesterday.
See ya.
In part, it's because I haven't had much to say. Life, such as it is, proceeds apace (or at a virtual standstill). Nothing exciting or new to report, and while I have thoughts about it all, none of them are really new.
In part, it's because I was biting back what I did have to say. Philosophical and moral arguments on a fair number of points. But that's a fragment of my old self talking. On reflection, it was clear to me that nothing good would come of it. Arguments of that nature rarely end up with either side being convinced to step away from their respective initial stances, and that's especially true when the people you're trying to convince are, when it comes to the subject at hand, moral absolutists.
Once, I'd have done it anyway. To have my say, to speak my piece, to throw my hat in the ring, to stand up for what I believe. And, really, for the joy of intellectual sparring and fencing. The challenge, the chance to explore and refine my beliefs, the chance to, maybe, against the odds, spread them, even just a little.
I find, though, that now, rather than anticipating the thrill of the fight, I don't have the patience for it. Not for arguing with the people with whom I respectfully disagree, let alone the shreks.*
*That's a term I just coined. It describes those who are, by alignment, (ostensibly, more or less) Good, but are, nevertheless, by nature, if not precisely trolls, then not so far from it, either.
So I decided that, all things considered, it was best just to leave well enough alone. I wasn't going to get anywhere good, and I was almost certain to wind up feeling angry and beleaguered. It would negatively impact the budding relationships I had, pushing us further apart on both sides.
All of which was quite sensible and rational, but the old fragment that wanted to argue chaffed at being suppressed. These are my views. This is my space. My journal. And I have to hold back? Here, of all places? (Where the opposing side, being in the majority, can and do express their views?) Some resentment brewed, and that was enough to taint my feelings towards a playground where my explorations had already been stalled... by the same argument.
Funny thing in all this is that it's a difference of degree rather than kind. At least, for the most part. In some sense, though, it's a question of absolutism vs. relativism. (Though even my dedication to relativism is kept in moderation.)
None of which is to cast blame on anyone (except maybe the shreks). It's just my own personal feelings. Explaining that internal dialogue, and why it's kept me away.
Anyway...
The other part of what's kept me from writing is - and this will be shocking, I'm sure - fatigue. I spent the last couple of weeks pushing my schedule around faster than usual so that I could be awake during the daytime for next week. (And, somehow, hopefully the three weeks after that. Not sure how I'll maintain that, but I'll do what I can.)
Because...
I'm leaving tomorrow to drive to California.
An old friend called up a few weeks ago to say that he has to drive a moving van to Berkley. He wanted some company for the trip. We talked it out over a series of phone calls, and I agreed. Unfortunately, we have to make the drive in 6 days (500 miles/day), so there won't be time to see the people or places along the way.
But... I then have a few days free, and a one-way ticket home from California isn't cheap. (And, for some stupid reason, they won't let me use frequent flier miles for a one-way ticket. And I don't feel like wasting the miles for a return leg that I'm not going to use.)
So... I'm going to double back. Take a day to rest (and maybe have lunch or something with some family friends who live right there), but then get out of California quickly, in memory of my old vow never to set foot there again. Day of driving. Day to tour around with a friend in Oregon. Day of driving. Day to poke around Idaho and then see my old college roommate (who now lives in Idaho with his family, though I haven't seen him since the wedding). Short drive to Yellowstone. Day or so to see what I can there. And then...
I'm not sure. Was going to try for Mt. Rushmore. But that would leave me in South Dakota, which is very firmly flyover territory. Turns out it's hard to get a good flight from flyover territory. Flights from Rapid City, SD aren't cheap, and they leave at 6am or 10pm. The very little in between is ridiculously expensive. And I'd have to change planes two or three times.
And I'd be flying home just about the same time that the rest of the family will start the drive up to Massachusetts for the annual family vacation there. I figure I'll have my suitcases already packed for the trip west and a day traveling is a day traveling, so I might as well fly there. But that's one more connection to a small (though reasonably busy) airport.
So I'm considering trying to fly out of Denver (one less connection, anyway) or Salt Lake City or something. Or maybe fly halfway, take an overnight, and finish the trip the next day. (Which might, ironically enough, mean staying over in New Jersey.) Gonna go take another look at the map when I'm finished posting this.
It'll be fun. It'll be exciting. It'll be tiring. It'll be something of an expense. And I'm sorry for all the people and places I won't be able to see. But I'm looking forward to it. And I'm sure I'll take plenty of pictures. I won't be online much, but maybe I'll have more to say in the time that I am. We'll see.
But that's my update for now. Where I've been and where I will be.
Back home in September, with some decisions to make, perhaps some new projects, and a giant looming question mark of a future. But never mind that. I should get packing. And planning. Oh, and a gallon of distilled water which I forgot to buy yesterday.
See ya.
From:
no subject
So... I might be there on a weekend, and it could potentially be a good place to stop for a dinner break, or maybe even an overnight stop depending on how the drive goes.
From:
no subject
I'm trying to remember the places we stopped when we came up here for vacations when I was small, but it's hard to remember.
You'll pass Lake Shasta, and there are a couple nice places to rest there. It's about 3-4 hours north of the city, I think.
Ashland's about 350 miles from SF, and right on the highway, about 10 miles into Oregon, then Eugene is another 180 miles or so north, and Portland about 115 miles north of that.