Gaza

Been following this story for awhile. As someone who has lived in Israel, I definitely have strong opinions about the current situation. Simply said, the 2 state solution is probably the only one that makes any long-term sense, and events since 2006 have only made that possibility seem even farther away. It makes me sad that so many lives are being ruined by this conflict.

The United States is roundly condemned in many parts of the world because of the messing about they do in the internal politics and economics of other countries. Same with Israel and Palestine. There will be no peace until these people have real control over their lives. If I lived in Gaza, I'd be resisting the blockade and occupation with every fibre of my being and in any manner possible. I'd also be teaching my kids those same values.

What I am glad to see is all the assorted web links to all sorts of non-controlled information from both sides of the conflict. Where we have one side trying to dampen down all types of journalism and the other making it sound like a real fight, thank goodness there are other sources. Some are full of rhetoric, many are just stories about how the ongoing conflict is impacting their lives.

Retiring from Dal - Why?

In a mere 100 days, I will be leaving Dal and the IT computing world after 25 years. I am taking early pension. I will still have to work for a living, but then, who doesn't? I could stay at Dal another 10 years, and then fade off into the sunset with enough $$ to keep myself off the streets. Realistically, I have to leave because I am seriously burnt out.

I am taking a reduced version of my pension. Basically, I am trading personal options for financial security. I have to work 10 more years in my life, but it doesn't have to be here, and with the pension coming in, it doesn't have to be anything more than food&spending money. Yes, this will make me poorer as time goes on, as I'm pretty sure I won't end up in another pensionable job.

When I was in my early 20's, I used every cent I could find to travel overseas for 6 months. In Israel, I met the woman who would become my wife. After a few years together, we used up every cent we had to again travel overseas for 6 months. I have always thought that the trade-off was worth it then, and I'm damn sure the trade-off will still be the right decision.

My opinion on decisions. Make 'em to the best of your ability, and then live with them. No going back.

Enjoying Life

What follows is a 2-part blog on enjoyment. The first part is about enjoyment of things that you buy, like a fancy car, stereo or computer setup. The second part is about things that you enjoy that really have nothing to do with money. Enjoy...

Can you enjoy a $2000 stereo?

I have a stereo that costs about $1000 and I've had it for years. I have extracted enough enjoyment out of it already that if it disappeared, I'd have no complaints. What would I buy to replace it? Considering I spend 8-10 hours a day listening to music, you might think I'd get some nice new gear.

I like to break down my enjoyment of stereos into several areas of concern:

- Cost of the article based on my budget
- The setting in which I get to use the article
- How much usage I could realistically expect
- My experience in the particular area

COST

Like I said, I have a $1000 stereo, and would like to replace it with one worth about $1500. In order to enjoy such an expensive stereo, I'd have to be pretty comfy with the $$$, or the other factors would have to carry a lot of weight. Would I go into debt to buy a nice stereo, not likely. Budget-wise, I'd top out at around $500 right now. I don't see this changing much in the next few years.

SETTING

In order to enjoy a good stereo, you have to be able to listen to it. Not necessarily at a loud volume, altho that is the fun part of a big stereo. I mean do you have a nice room that lets you place the speakers properly. Are you in a neighbourhood when a few extra decibels won't have the cops at your door? Do you live with someone who does not want to hear your choice of music and thus you can only play the stereo when they are not around. Do you listen to music that can show off the range of your setup, or it is all Sousa music.

USAGE

This is the one that gets me. I spend many hours listening to music, but most of it on a $50 radio in the kitchen, a $150 stereo in my room or on my computer at work. The big $1000 beast is currently reserved for special occasions a few times a week. Now in the past, I used to run that thing all day. My kids tell stories of me shipping them off to bed, then me cracking a few beers and blasting (literally) the tunes for a few hours.

EXPERIENCE

I have heard stereos at $1500, $2000, $4000 and beyond. Realistically, for me, I'd top out at $1500. After that, I wouldn't get much out of it. Now, let me have the thing for a few years, let me listen to it for hours a days and offer me a stereo worth twice as much and sure, I'd be ready for it. But me right now, $1500 would make me very happy indeed.

So, you have $2000 burning a hole in your pocket and you want to buy a new stereo. Go for it. Myself, if I was looking for a new stereo, this is how I would break it down:

- Price $500
- Setting $2000
- Usage $300
- Experience $1500

I'd buy the $300 stereo, because realistically, I would enjoy that more than the other options.

Can you enjoy a $0.60 can of beans?

It has been argued that all pleasure is basically release from tension. Sounds simplistic, but think of hunger, sexual pleasure, having a good dump, getting that job after blowing the interview. We are simple beings. My questions is this: What does it take to enjoy a $0.60 can of beans? The word I use is contrast. What situation would you have to find yourself in that the can of beans provides a lot of enjoyment?

My buddy Doug and I decide to hitchhike to PEI in April. We're probably 21 or so. Being typical young people, we have few plans, clothes not meant for the season, little money and just a desire to go somewhere. We hitchhike to the PEI ferry on a Friday night after work. Our last ride is in a car chock-full of young people. No back seat. Literally. Just whatever is under a basic backseat. We are late for the last ferry. We arrive in time to actually jump onto the ferry as it leaves the wharf. I'm sure that is not allowed these days. We have to leap across 2-3 feet of open ocean water. Mucho fun already!

Off the ferry, no one picks us up and we walk for a few hours to the middle of nowhere and sleep in an abandoned car by a garage. Cold night, no food, no blankets, no booze, no drugs. Hey! Even more fun. The next morning we hike to Charlottetown, schmooze a bit, acquire a few groceries and hike out to the beach on our way to Summerside. Start up a little fire, sit on the cliffs and enjoy, really enjoy a $0.60 can of beans. One of the best meals in my life. How is that?

I use the term contrast. Sitting on the cliff, the view is beautiful. I'm with a good friend. We spent a tough, cold night. The sun is out. I am starving. The beans are tasty and hot. Like I said, we are simple beings.

I am still a runner. The advantage of being older is that it feels even better when you stop. Of course, the disadvantage is that the buzz lasts an even shorter time and I'm in some sort of pain the rest of the time. No idea what level of pain non-runners put up with. Don't really care. Running has so many advantages. On Saturday mornings, a bunch of us run, then head to a little diner for a nice, greasy breakfast. Guilt-free, thanks to the running.

Wrapping your hands around a piping hot coffee, with pancakes, eggs and bacon on the way is truly one of life's greatest pleasures. The staff knows us, we're rambunctious and whiny, but we we tip well. The conversations flows pretty good. Some of us only see each other this once a week.

When I look back over the time that I spend, I find that the things that I really enjoy usually involve friends and family, don't cost much and involve some sort of contrast, like not seeing someone for awhile or finishing a long run in the rain.

Keep that in mind when you decide to spend some serious cash, hoping to generate some enjoyment. I am a Gonzo, and we are famous for manual-powered sports. The guy who spends mucho dollars to tool about the woods on a fancy ATV with his friends could probably extract the same enjoyment with a mountain bike.

Think about it. Enjoyment is not something you buy, tho it can be earned.

Bedford Basin in a Blizzard? No thank-you

The Gonzos had planned to run the 28 km Bedford Basin loop on New Year's Day. Unfortunately, we were hit with a blizzard Wednesday that really hampered New Year's Eve festivities. I woke up early. The blizzard conditions continued and the roads were a mess. I decided to bail on the run and emailed the group. Spent the rest of the day shovelling out my house and car, and retrieving my daughter from Halifax.

Now, I run in cold, nasty weather, I run long distances and I run un-plowed, icy sidewalks. What I don't do is all these at once, particularly the running on roads in blizzard conditions. What would that sound like in a news bite if someone got hit by a car. Not a lot of sympathy coming our way under those conditions.

As we get older, we tend to be more fearful and less inclined to try new things. One of the best aspects about being a Gonzo or a member of Banook is that there is a group of people around to help push away any encroaching lethargy.

But there is a nasty side to this group-think. What if the group decides to do something just too far outside your comfort range? No one wants to be the spoil-sport and put up with the abuse, but realistically, groups can head off into activities that are not really defendable, should something bad happen. What about these snowmobile guys in B.C. last week. Surely, there were some mixed opinions about whether they should head out in bad avalanche conditions. I would love to hear the inside story on just what sort of reservations existed inside the group. We may never know.

Anyway, the decision to not try the Bedford Basin loop in a blizzard was a good one, and one I'd repeat everytime.