Thanks for the Social Dilemma recommendation. Disturbing. Non sequitur: Most of my adult life has been spend in pursuing the question of how best to live. What is definition of a life well and properly spent? My best answer is the yin and yang of our existence. Duality. Impermanence. People are the very best and the very worst and many times the best and worst reside in the same person including me. Bottom line for me: there is NO answer, only more questions. So, a question for you is this: Will being an expat bring YOU a measure of peace? Leaving the USA is tempting with our country's deep rooted strife, inhumanity, and white (elite) privilege. I truly believe one can run, but cannot hide. We are on the cusp of leaving The Villages for Santa Fe; not sure if we will put it off or deep down even want to pull it off. Perhaps my lesson is that the uproar is IN me and no amount of external circumstance will ameliorate my "human" condition. Will living in Santa Fe bring ME a measure of peace? I am enjoying your posts! Stay safe.....
First, you will need moral support as you watch the film I recommended...beware! Second, as always you ask important questions...which never have easy or perhaps "right" answers. I will share that I did feel better when we moved from TV to CA. But, of course, I can't answer your important questions. These questions are at once universal and only yours.
Just finished The Social Dilemma. I was aware of what was happening on many levels, but to hear the tech folks who have WOKE was engaging and inspiring. It is a fight, especially in this time of virus, not to aimlessly sit for a long time in front of the screen. Thanks and I do know we must each answer our own questions but it helps to have people in the world like you who are doing the work of "wanting" to think.
We do live in an America I no longer recognize. The saddest part is that I have been reluctant even to ask where friends and acquaintances stand. In today’s America, such knowledge risks losing a friendship. But I simply cannot remain neutral while the value systems I grew up with and which I taught to my sons and which once defined America get trampled and distorted. Let’s get one thing straight - there has always been bigotry, prejudice and hatred in America. It is my job now to do whatever I can to educate myself, to support worthy causes, to vote, to write to my congressional representative when I am displeased with my government. In short, I need to stay the course - and I try very hard not to get overloaded by the news. Otherwise, I can’t see the forest for the trees. Even a tiny insect looks threatening under a powerful microscope.
Nancy, you may be interested in an historian’s daily commentary on what is occurring in our country. I find her comments helpful as I try to put into perspective what I used to believe versus the reality of our today’s. Hopefully, in the not to distant future we will be traveling - Portugal has always been on my travel list. 🤗 https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/
Nancy, as we look to Belize, I totally understand your thought process and understand the what and a why of how you are approaching this new concept of living. I have a little advantage in being in Belize many times and purchased the property of knowing where I want to hang my hat. Thoroughly enjoying your adventures.
Thanks, Lisa. Yes it was a bit crazy to come to a country that we never visited before. We have a friend in San Francisco that has a family compound in Belize. They are on the mainland and a bit inland...but love it.
Monica, as much as I opposed the former President and like you believe he committed a crime...I fluctuate between wanting impeachment and remembering why Ford pardoned Nixon. Of course, Ford paid the price at the polls...but his actions may have accelerated the country's healing process. I often wished that Trump would have been dealt with like Agnew was. Republicans put him in a room...laid out his crimes...and said, resign or we will expose this and ensure you spend many years in jail.
Nancy, I think we live in the same bubble, which includes my crush on Nicole Wallace. We consume too much MSNBC on many days. And while my wife and I have been talking about becoming expats for over 10 years, we are prompted to make the move now by an increasing sense that America is no longer a safe and sane place to live. I am hopeful that it can be salvaged, but fearful that some damage is permanent. Diane's question about finding peace as an expat is a tough one. If leaving because of politics and unrest was our only reason, I don't know that we could answer "yes". But we are also moving to fulfill a long-held dream, and I expect we will find our days and our minds filled with new experiences and our lives enriched with new friends.
Like you, Mike, I hope things improve in the States. And yes, unrest at home was not our only reason for moving overseas. I’ll write more about that in future posts.
Thanks for the Social Dilemma recommendation. Disturbing. Non sequitur: Most of my adult life has been spend in pursuing the question of how best to live. What is definition of a life well and properly spent? My best answer is the yin and yang of our existence. Duality. Impermanence. People are the very best and the very worst and many times the best and worst reside in the same person including me. Bottom line for me: there is NO answer, only more questions. So, a question for you is this: Will being an expat bring YOU a measure of peace? Leaving the USA is tempting with our country's deep rooted strife, inhumanity, and white (elite) privilege. I truly believe one can run, but cannot hide. We are on the cusp of leaving The Villages for Santa Fe; not sure if we will put it off or deep down even want to pull it off. Perhaps my lesson is that the uproar is IN me and no amount of external circumstance will ameliorate my "human" condition. Will living in Santa Fe bring ME a measure of peace? I am enjoying your posts! Stay safe.....
First, you will need moral support as you watch the film I recommended...beware! Second, as always you ask important questions...which never have easy or perhaps "right" answers. I will share that I did feel better when we moved from TV to CA. But, of course, I can't answer your important questions. These questions are at once universal and only yours.
Just finished The Social Dilemma. I was aware of what was happening on many levels, but to hear the tech folks who have WOKE was engaging and inspiring. It is a fight, especially in this time of virus, not to aimlessly sit for a long time in front of the screen. Thanks and I do know we must each answer our own questions but it helps to have people in the world like you who are doing the work of "wanting" to think.
We do live in an America I no longer recognize. The saddest part is that I have been reluctant even to ask where friends and acquaintances stand. In today’s America, such knowledge risks losing a friendship. But I simply cannot remain neutral while the value systems I grew up with and which I taught to my sons and which once defined America get trampled and distorted. Let’s get one thing straight - there has always been bigotry, prejudice and hatred in America. It is my job now to do whatever I can to educate myself, to support worthy causes, to vote, to write to my congressional representative when I am displeased with my government. In short, I need to stay the course - and I try very hard not to get overloaded by the news. Otherwise, I can’t see the forest for the trees. Even a tiny insect looks threatening under a powerful microscope.
Well said!
Nancy, you may be interested in an historian’s daily commentary on what is occurring in our country. I find her comments helpful as I try to put into perspective what I used to believe versus the reality of our today’s. Hopefully, in the not to distant future we will be traveling - Portugal has always been on my travel list. 🤗 https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/
Ms Richardson is how I found substack. I read her every day!
Nancy, as we look to Belize, I totally understand your thought process and understand the what and a why of how you are approaching this new concept of living. I have a little advantage in being in Belize many times and purchased the property of knowing where I want to hang my hat. Thoroughly enjoying your adventures.
Thanks, Lisa. Yes it was a bit crazy to come to a country that we never visited before. We have a friend in San Francisco that has a family compound in Belize. They are on the mainland and a bit inland...but love it.
It was a very sad day for sure and our past president should be convicted for his crime!
Monica, as much as I opposed the former President and like you believe he committed a crime...I fluctuate between wanting impeachment and remembering why Ford pardoned Nixon. Of course, Ford paid the price at the polls...but his actions may have accelerated the country's healing process. I often wished that Trump would have been dealt with like Agnew was. Republicans put him in a room...laid out his crimes...and said, resign or we will expose this and ensure you spend many years in jail.
Nancy, I think we live in the same bubble, which includes my crush on Nicole Wallace. We consume too much MSNBC on many days. And while my wife and I have been talking about becoming expats for over 10 years, we are prompted to make the move now by an increasing sense that America is no longer a safe and sane place to live. I am hopeful that it can be salvaged, but fearful that some damage is permanent. Diane's question about finding peace as an expat is a tough one. If leaving because of politics and unrest was our only reason, I don't know that we could answer "yes". But we are also moving to fulfill a long-held dream, and I expect we will find our days and our minds filled with new experiences and our lives enriched with new friends.
Like you, Mike, I hope things improve in the States. And yes, unrest at home was not our only reason for moving overseas. I’ll write more about that in future posts.