Walk a New Street
Walk a street that’s new to you;
Notice what happens in your head.
Pulses of pleasure are released
Like bubbles in rising bread.
Now some scientist has proven what
RVers knew was true:
Travelers feel a surge of joy
Experiencing something new.
Endorphins are released, it seems,
When we see novelty,
Natural pleasure chemicals
In the brain of you and me.
So now we know how to make ourselves happy:
Go do something new.
To generate fun just walk some “un”
Familiar avenue.
Thanks to the research of James Austin
(Zen and the Brain,
MIT Press, Cambridge, 1998, p. 219)
Hwy 180--North of Silver City, NM---a beautiful drive. The caravan nearly always travels separately---to preserve our freedom to stop where we will.
Suddenly the world turns green ---in Glenwood. We all stop here to appreciate this lovely oasis.
We decide to stay a few days---never mind there's a bear on the loose. This sign right behind my rig.
Hard to believe but there's a free campground two blocks north of town.
Here's 3 of the 4 of us settled in.
The town's famous for this:
Perhaps the greatest "catwalk" in America---maybe a mile long suspended walkway into this grand canyon.
Laurie is as charmed as I am:
Actually more so---She disappeared down into the canyon. When I caught up she was well out of her clothes---Oh she is bold---finally swimming around in the pool behind her.
See the story here? Biblical Religious nuts who believe the earth is only about 10,000 years old are registering their dissent with science. Does it shock you that 47 percent of Americans do not believe in evolution? That is like believing the world is flat.
Nightime finds us at the local bar---everybody is having a great time---the local rancher/band was playing Ghost riders in the sky.
In walks Louis- a seasonal firefighter from LA. Laurie and I interview him thoroughly---about firefighting---then finally learning about his love life.
The town has a great library---free wifi---friendly personnel---super generous lending policy---complete strangers can take books home. And we did!
Out back---a really good mural by the children of the town.
And a giant concrete slab--colored chalk provided--the public invited--to have its say. Can you read what the philosopher wrote? "PROGRESS IS THE INCREASE OF OPTIONS." (Arthur C. Clarke)
The love lady drew a heart that said CELEBRATE LIFE!
Peg went Zennish deep: THE OCEAN REFUSES NO RIVER!
Evenings found us strolling Glenwood's cool streets.
RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES: Something wonderful is happening in small towns everywhere---Art--Music--festivals---Community consciousness---good libraries---gardens--flowers---sculptures. People are coming alive---lowering their defenses---discovering the joys of playfulness---cooperating to make a more civil society. Bisbee,Az, Patagonia,Az, Columbus, NM, Silver City, NM, Glenwood, NM--to name a few. The age of Aquairus my indeed be dawning.
QUEST FOR COMMUNITY UPDATE: We have temporarily scattered in 4 directions---tomorrow we begin moving together again--aiming to assemble at Bluewater State Park near Grants, NM. Feel free to visit us.
"PROGRESS IS THE INCREASE OF OPTIONS." (Arthur C. Clarke)
ReplyDeleteAnd those options come from information processed over the semi-lattice. We can use set theory to analyze a network and assign it a rating to determine how much of the semi-lattice exists in comparison to other samples. You'll find a correlation between morality, strength, durability and the semi-lattice. The Semi-Lattice needs to become a prevalent part of our behavior systems instead of what we have now which is a bias just towards hierarchy. Using mathematics, political and ethical morality can be computed likely ending most if not all debate in politics and ethics.
You're going back to Bluewater?? Is that not where that nut case is at you exchanged barbs with last year?? Perhaps he has mellowed some.....
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: You're way over my head--can you give us a book title or author that will clue us in? I don't know what a lattice is.
ReplyDeleteBlack Sheep: Good memory! Yes that's where he was. I'm not proud of the way I engaged him---not sure I was fair--hope he's still there and will give it another shot.
Randy: Where are you guys headed next week? Or are you like me; that's way too far in advance to plan?
ReplyDeleteWould like to finally meet up with you folks. I'm visiting in Santa Monica, CA at the moment and plan to crash a family reunion in Lake Sequoia June 15-16. Then . . . ?
Dan: We will likely stay at Bluewater ST Park for 2 weeks or so----then I will post our next destination. For sure in the high country---7000 ft or better. Hope we get to connect.
ReplyDeleteMy ideas on progress are inspired by the well known work of Chris Alexander described in his essay "A City Is Not A Tree" and his book "A Pattern Language". His work has gone beyond architecture and city planning and has influenced computer science and information processing. The essay, in particular, will explain the difference between a hierarchy and semi-lattice and its implications.
ReplyDeleteI really hope you read the essay and comment on it!
What are/were you thoughts on the cheap land? Did you buy a parcel to come back to in the future? If not why?
ReplyDeleteWouldnt mind a dip in that water for sure!!
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous re: cheap land: I've decided against owning land--at least for now. I was all hot to buy---and own a nice acre and a half--ready to live on for $4000. But I walked and talked this AM with a friend and concluded that it would anchor me---inhibit my adventuring--distract from my 3rd stage lifestyle. I am an American Sadhu---and so are my friends---we will wander the world--living in great simplicity and wonder---focusing on BEING as opposed to owning. I hope to participate in creating a new kind of temporary human organism---a mobile tribe--that exchanges dna (info--inspiration etc) then spins off to connect intentionally with others in a new tribe and so on---In short to go viral with a new pattern of association we hope to invent.
ReplyDeleteTo anonymous re Chris Alexander: Thank you so much for pointing me to his revolutionary ideas. I read a summary of A CITY IS NOT A TREE and several articles on lattices (hard to get my head around----but finally did) Designing for aliveness is what I learned. It will guide my thinking as I design with my friends a new form of tribe.
ReplyDeleteAwesome Randy! Thank you for taking the time to investigate.
ReplyDeleteThe hierarchies are the essential building blocks, so to speak. Hierarchies deliver nutrients, mostly in one direction but they don't produce consciousness. The semi-lattice emerges from overlapping hierarchies which produce a conscious living feedback loop.
Anonymous: Heirarchys "delivering nutrients" (mostly one way) versus
ReplyDeletesemi-lattices emerging from overlapping heirarchies and producing "a conscious feedback loop"---WOW---that is so subtle an idea---and so absolutely vital if humanity is to progress. I urge my readers to pursue the notion of semi-lattices until the light comes on. Alexander, in seeking to know why medieval cities feel so wonderful as opposed to modern (tree) cities has uncovered the fundamental design secret (overlap)that promotes mutual enrichment. I hope to use this insight in the formation of our "new tribe." Thank you again for the stimulus.
==========
ReplyDeleteRANDY: I am an American Sadhu---and so are my friends---we will wander the world--living in great simplicity and wonder---focusing on BEING as opposed to owning.
==========
I, too, have gone back and forth on the whole land "ownership" thing over the years. It's clear that none of us ever really OWN what we call "our land" anyway. For a purchase fee -- and tax fees every year from now ON -- at best(!) we get the temporary use of some dirt. As I caution my friends, "Miss those tax payments for a few years and find out who REALLY owns *your* land." Ultimately? It always comes down to WHY would I pay to stay in one place when I can stay in any one of a thousand different places for FREE? (And with no taxes either!)
==========
As in much of the great West, here in Idaho we have thousands of miles of logging roads which provide access to wonderful, beautiful, and extremely remote places. On some of these roads, I'm convinced one could lay down across the road and starve to death before they would get run over. May it forever be so.
==========
sail4free
==========
randy, looks like everone in the carvan!!.is having a good time.i met you at this year rubber tramp rally.i would like to run a planned in the works by you.think of buying some land around yuma,close to the border for medical an dentnal reasons,an let fulltime travelers have a place to recharge everthing,from getting there mail to the spirit well being. a place to past a way in your rig. of couse it would have a communal economic for it to work!!. he there a need for this?think in terms of the slaps for older fulltimers.what do you think.gary green
ReplyDeleteGary: I have considered that same idea--there was land for sale on Sidewinder rd--California. In the end we did not---and I'm glad for the same reasons I gave above. It isn't necessary to have a long-term place to park. You can purchase a "fishing" permit from the Quechan Indians for about $60 and stay all winter---anywhere on their reservation or along the all American Canal. You can park free on BLM land --short term at several locations around Yuma and have the benefit of associating with other campers. Randy
ReplyDeletethanks randy,for the input.and the local information.hope you can make rtr at shaver lake, june 19 to july 3 .thank you again.gary green
ReplyDelete