Saturday, February 6, 2010
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Beginning Continues
Two adults sharing everything in a space no bigger than a prison cell is punishment enough for convicts. Choosing to do so must reveal some weakness of character that few would be willing to admit. Imagine begging the judge, "Please, Your Honor, lock me up! I just can't handle the big wide world anymore."
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The Beginning
This fall my wife and I gave up the housing market, the rental market, the house-to-share market, even the move-in-with-the-kids market. Let's face it, every one of those options has a loser and no real winners. So, we moved into a 37 foot Avion trailer. Avions are a a bit like Airstreams; with shiny aluminum shells, real wood cabinets, and generally well made appliances. The fact that ours is 25 years old means it is a survivor. Much like ourselves.
I am never happy with the way things are. I am constantly compelled to obsess over inferior ideas, inconsiderate design, poor workmanship, lack of planning, and the use of materials and labor that compromise the ideals with which the product was conceived, usualyl for the sake of profit.
I don't actually object to profit. I think that anyone with something of value to offer is entitled to the opportunity to make a profit. The trouble is that "value" is a subjective concept and the difference between "real value" and "perceived value" is where excess profits are made.
I digress. (Something readers of this blog should be aware of is that I digress often.)
Our trailer, purchased form a young man living near Everson, Washington, (about a 120 miles north of us) seemed like a good deal. Even for $5,000. What we discovered, after we had it towed by a pig farmer with a diesel powered pick-up and anti-swaybars to a friend's property, where we were to take up residenc e on the edge of her horse pasture, was that the aluminum shell was not quite as waterproof as advertised.
I am never happy with the way things are. I am constantly compelled to obsess over inferior ideas, inconsiderate design, poor workmanship, lack of planning, and the use of materials and labor that compromise the ideals with which the product was conceived, usualyl for the sake of profit.
I don't actually object to profit. I think that anyone with something of value to offer is entitled to the opportunity to make a profit. The trouble is that "value" is a subjective concept and the difference between "real value" and "perceived value" is where excess profits are made.
I digress. (Something readers of this blog should be aware of is that I digress often.)
Our trailer, purchased form a young man living near Everson, Washington, (about a 120 miles north of us) seemed like a good deal. Even for $5,000. What we discovered, after we had it towed by a pig farmer with a diesel powered pick-up and anti-swaybars to a friend's property, where we were to take up residenc e on the edge of her horse pasture, was that the aluminum shell was not quite as waterproof as advertised.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Dealing with complexity
Ever play the game of "Pick-up Sticks"? I think it was a Milton Bradley game from the 60's. A few dozen color coded sticks, about 8-10 inches long and pointed at one end, came in a can. The game was played by upending the can and letting the sticks fall where they will. Players took turns at attempting to remove sticks from the pile without disturbing any of the others. Points were earned based on the color of the sticks removed successfully. It was challenging game, pitting the forces of chaos against the powers of will and order. Observation, concentration, and dexterity were the requisite skills.
For me, life has seemed like a never ending game of 'Pick-up Sticks.' The complexity of relationships, between people, objects, events, social orders, politics, natural orders, species, environments are all interwoven and delicately connected. Forget what the bible says. If god, exists then he/she/it should be held is responsible. In the beginning, all the stuff in the universe was just dumped out of a can and god said, "Have at it." And the stuff did just that. People are just a collection of sticks and stuff organized together to sort out other sticks and stuff. That is the entire ontology of our existence. Go figure.
Assuming that this ridiculous analogy is in any way revealing of the true nature of things, then it must also follow that we humans, are rewarded with some satisfaction for our ability to organize this loose pile of stuff into something that sustains us. Happiness therefore is founded in our skills and abilities to deal with complexity, and conversely, unhappiness in our lack of ability to handle it.
For me, life has seemed like a never ending game of 'Pick-up Sticks.' The complexity of relationships, between people, objects, events, social orders, politics, natural orders, species, environments are all interwoven and delicately connected. Forget what the bible says. If god, exists then he/she/it should be held is responsible. In the beginning, all the stuff in the universe was just dumped out of a can and god said, "Have at it." And the stuff did just that. People are just a collection of sticks and stuff organized together to sort out other sticks and stuff. That is the entire ontology of our existence. Go figure.
Assuming that this ridiculous analogy is in any way revealing of the true nature of things, then it must also follow that we humans, are rewarded with some satisfaction for our ability to organize this loose pile of stuff into something that sustains us. Happiness therefore is founded in our skills and abilities to deal with complexity, and conversely, unhappiness in our lack of ability to handle it.
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