seriously.. it’s not as if i was expecting, as we began to roll through the two thousands, the civilized infastructure of the jetson’s but at least something comparable to the practicality of the fifth element or maybe just high society experimentation reminiscent of michael j fox goofing on his hoverboard in back to the future.
technology has disappointed me, the aforementioned just the too sweet icing on a high fructose containing artificially colored birthday cake. i am not a complete luddite, really, we couldn’t even be having this “chat” if not for some of the cool and incredibly useful tools progressing technology has provided. in our (sailing) lives alone the resources available for safe passage-making alone have all but founded/inspired a resurgence of maritime adventurers, setting out on far less unpredictable voyages for the sake of the journey alone.
having said this and paid my homage to the gifts of our present tech culture, i must reassert my disappointment. but for all the iphones (wow are they cool!) and laser eye surgery (totally amazing also) people are still living without potable water and children die of malnutrition, all over the world- oftentimes right under our noses. fossil fuels continue to dominate and personal responsibility seems to have fallen out of trend like picture tube televisions.
everyone just moves so fast, with so seemingly little time to consider the harm being done by their imposter single passenger hummers. money is worshipped like an idol as we work through our family’s dinner time, commuting with one hand while eating a non sustainably manufactured barely nutritional “healthy” fast food chicken sandwich.
we often ride our bikes alone (guinna, alex and i) down the side of the road, smiling for the fresh air (i’m ignoring the exhaust) and exertion, peering into the small boxes of people, looking for a shared moment of joy but more often receiving the dead stare of the numb overly taxed suburban traveler.
someone once said to me “well not everyone can live like you do” and i suppose that’s true for it is an existence not for the meek at heart, one’s levels of comfort must be very fluid and you must have a fair amount of the black sheep gene. for me though, this life is splendid. in my land life i had taken to feeling guilty for every step i took supporting a culture i did not believe in and too increasingly often the squared walls of a traditional domicile felt more like confinement then safe haven.
so in this new year , for all the misteps i have taken (and wow i am but an egg after all ), the few regrets i have and the occasional longing for more easily accessed old friends, every morning i wake up feeling free. i bake my bread and ride my bike, teach my daughter and attempt everyday to learn a new skill towards further sustainability… and i breath… and i smile and the world goes on turning faster and i can benefit from the positive bits and say no to the systems that used to force my hand and leave me so disappointed .
so i guess, in the end;), i say you can keep your flying cars (though you won’t see this girl saying no to an offered ride) i’ll sail…
this moment is life… sam