Random thought 717

Gratitude. a sentiment I have expressed too infrequently in my life. At some point, I should sit down and write (not necessarily send) lettes to people to whom I owe a debt of gratitude...Getting crazy ideas these days. Doing conferences in New Zealand. Running around China. Extended camping trips. It is the fight or flight complex kicking in. Also the end of the summr thing...I was going to sketch out five possible future scenarios yesterday. I should at least sketch out three...On the other hand, it still seems valid for me to take an extended break, that this is something I deserve, and that just to wander aimlessly for a couple of years would be fine, although it would be nice to have more definite plans that at least involved earning some income...The book on China, the Philosopher-Chef book, the wisdom for all seasons book...I could see spending five years writing these three books. If at the end of it none of them has made it, well, find something else...Chinese and classical guitar, two things I have made so little progress in proportionate to the time invested...Still, the conference in New Zealand seems like a valid idea. Maybe kick start me. Certainly a worthy goal...So I am thinking next fall will be a wandering season and then try to set up something definite for winter/spring semester in China, depending on when the book comes out...I sure would like to get in shape to run a marathon or at least a half, but that would require remaing in the states for at least another 3-4 months, which I really could do, although I could not do it here...I mean, there is no reason to jump on the China book and could just as easily start it next year, but if I did that I would have to go somewhere this fall, preferably somewhere where I could earn some money while I'm trying to pitch the book... I certainly can't afford to run around Asia, so if I go overseas it will have to be to a definite place and with a definite purpose...It does seem I should not rush into anything long term right now. I did apply for the one job with CEA and if, per impossibile, I was offerd it, I would probably take it, I don't think it is something I am going to have to worry about...Whatever the situation, I vow not to be still living in Arizona in September

Global Volunteer Network

So after a breakfast at Village Inn, I make my way over to Barnes and Nobles. I stop first in the travel section and check out some books on China, thinking that perhaps one of the things I can do is to sketch out two months in China for the fall. Well, I wander over to the travel essays section and come across a few books on volunteering. I flip the page to New Zealand and see something called the Global Volunteer Network which, in addition to hosting a lot of volunteer activities also runs a yearly "Be the Change Program," where people go to learn about social entrepeneuring, possibly starting a volunteer organization or working for one. The workshop is for those who want to:
Start a non-profit/charity organization
Get paid to make a difference in the lives of others.
Get a job with a non-profit/charity
Start a social enterprise or project
Learn how to get a job with the United Nations
Or if you just want to learn more about the field of Social Entrepreneurship and /or International Development

Well, so I end up going to the web page and it looks really interesting. The conference is in New Zealand Nove 21-28th and I am seriously considerring going, especially since I may well be in that part of the world anyway.

Changing driver's license

Just registered my car in Arizona and got an Arizona driver's license. Feels very strange. For twenty years, my car and license has been from Utah. I've been holding off of doing these things for a year for some reason. They were my last vestiges of connection to the state. Sort of like signing the divorce papers, I guess. Just adding to the general disorientation. I mean, if there is one thing I am certain of, it is that I do not want to live here. For all of the visiting I have done, this place has never felt like a potential home. The flip side of this is, it does not seem like any place could ever feel like home.

4 hour work week

Ran across the book "The four-hour work week" yesterday. I had seen the book before but never really looked at it. Now I wish'd I had. I could have used some of the advice when I was contemplating leaving my own job. I think it would have helped me a little more in the post-quitting planning, as well as making me feel a little better about the decision. I certainly would have spent the past year differently has I read it. Now, I am not sure exactly how it helps me going forward. I guess the sort of lifestyle it advocates is a much less settled one than the one I am currently contemplating, at least in the long run. And it is worth thinking that the next permanent move will probably be my last, andthat for all my screw ups I do possess a rather enviable state of freedom right now. In any case, I would certainly recommend the book to anyone thinking of quitting their job.

No spring, no summer

I commented earlier about how my travels had left me without any experience of spring because during the prime spring months I was mostly in countries that were immersed in heat. And now it feels like I am missing out on summer--that is the summer of camping and hiking, of long days outside in the woods--because I am stuck in this desert hellhole. No spring, no summer. If that's not a metaphor for my life, I don't know what is.

Louis

Well, maybe just jot a few thoughts down first thing in the morning to catch the general drift of things. Last night watched a show Louis C.K., about the life of a stand-up comic in New York. I had started to watch the first episode last week but found in uninteresting. But last night's episode hooked me. I think because the show dealt with age. The guy's only 42, but talked about how from now on it is all downhill. The next year will never be better than the last one. He was speaking physically, I guess, but since so much of our well-being is linked to our body, it could certainly be applied in other areas. He had just gotten divorced, and his brother was lamenting that he was consigning himself to dying alone, since no one would want him at this age. Yes, physical decline and solitary death--what's not to like.

Today is the first day...

...of being offiically unemployed. First day in twenty years I was not officially associated with a university. Feels strange. Really, I didn't think it would feel any different but it does. I can no longer say "I am on sabbatical." Instead, I must confront the full implications of what I have done. I think I will take today to reread, "Who moved my cheese." I need to plot some strategy for the future (as opposed to strategy for the past). I should map out at least five different scenarios for the future. Well, one thing is I am hestitant to apply for that university job in Beijing. I sort of like the notion of being a free agent, unattached to any institution. Since I feel I sort of wasted the year paid off I need to do something to make sure I do better with the ensuing time. Try to put an end to the sloppiness. Remember, the trip you end up taking for the most part is the trip you planned.