We visited Alamogordo and Cloudcroft yesterday–just as potential alternates if we decide that Silver City is not the place to be. They would likely be a winter/summer combination. The former is about 4,300 feet; the latter close to 9,000. So you can guess the difference in weather. That’s part of the methodology we think makes sense for picking a place to live–when it is entirely your choice. Consider the weather and climate generally. Consider the feel to you, that intangible sense of place that you get from just being there. Cloudcroft has some great views and land is cheap in Alamorgordo, but the combination doesn’t seem a good bet for us. If you are in the position of looking for places to live, you have to make your own decision of what matters to you and then assess what locales meet those concerns.
Not to steal too much of Barack Obama’s verbage here, but translating we to you or I will fairly adjust his message to the self-empowerment topic that is so popular among writers of a certain type inspirational book. It also correlates well with the self-empowerment that I find through the practice of Buddhism. Regardless of whether you find that religious practice to your liking or you find one or another of the various self-help gurus appealing, the fact is that generically it is will and determination overcoming doubt and procrastination that makes all the difference. A little (OK, a lot) research and persistence are also required. There is a lot to be said about writing and publishing a book; so I will dribble it out a little bit at a time. There is also a lot more to be said about the topic generally–Yes, You Can; so I plan on hitting it some more, with no more apologies to Obama. For now, let me just leave you with a link to building an author platform (now an abandoned book idea) at Morris Rosenthal’s website. Check out his blog as well. You won’t be disappointed.
Tags: Buddhism, persistence, self empowerment, self-publishing, will, Writing
An odd sort of faulty economic impact analysis keeps leaving the lips of TV and radio talking heads. I suppose it is part and parcel of the often observed herd behavior of mainstream media’s first line reporters. High gasoline prices are keeping people home. Vacations will be shortened or limited to local travel. In the end, the stories seem to become self-fulfilling prophecies as Americans listen to the reports. But how much of a dollar impact to the average family vacation is even a $2-3 more per gallon price? Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2008 election, cars, fuel economy, oil prices, vacations
I liked Talian, but I think I like this one better. Still have to get a couple bugs out, but it is mostly there. The poll, which I had on the left in Talian is now on the right–as you can see. So do let me know what you think. Also, for those of you who happened to buy Waiting for Westmoreland from Amazon, I am now finally all hooked up with AmazonConnect. That means you should see this blog there as well as messages to readers on your Amazon page (you do have one, right?)
Tags: Amazon, blogging, Wordpress templates, Writing
OK, very punny. Anyway, because changing the template of a Wordpress blog is WAY easier than migrating a website to a new version of Joomla (and adding lots of new content), changes are coming first here. I am still working on it live as I post this, so there will still be a few more updates in the next few days. In the meantime, do feel free (please) to let me know what you think. There is a poll to your left. Look for a new version of the Waiting for Westmoreland book site within the next couple weeks. I have not started on the main Eagle Peak Press site, so don’t hold your breath on a July release. A newsletter will be coming soon too, for book site subscribers; stay tuned.
A little more than a week ago we met a couple in a cafe in Pinos Altos, a village a few miles up the hill from Silver City (population about 10,000). We exhanged pleasantries, discussed the pros and cons of life in the vicinity (they had moved here a few years ago; we are contemplating it) and exchanged cards. That same evening they came knocking on the door of our RV to mention they were thinking of us in reference to a house they knew about that might be for sale and had a great view (one of our main criteria). They said they could show it to us since they had the keys. We went and looked a few days later without reaching any conclusions. The point is, this sort of thing doesn’t happen in Northern Virginia where we live. If someone did come knocking on our door after a chance encounter in a cafe, our more likely response would be one of suspicion–burglars, stalkers, weirdos, whatever. We invited them to a cookout at a the Buddhist district in Las Cruces, two hours away and they accepted. That might not be so different in Northern Virginia but not necessarily from such a chance encounter. It is, however, exactly the sort of behavior to be expected in the latter day of the law, when people need to hear of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo by whatever means possible.
As part of my new focus, I want to get your opinion. Where do you plan to retire? Will you be in a big city or a small town? Out in the country or in the suburbs? Moving a long distance or staying where you are? Give me some comments here.
Is there anything sold in Walmart, other than produce and many grocery items, that is NOT made in China? How many low cost electonic accessories sold in BestBuy, Circuit City, Radio Shack are NOT made in China. How many toys sold in the various toy stores, along with Walmart? Actually, this is not as xenophobic as it sounds. It bears on the “living off the grid” post and the practical economics of stretching the distribution distance of products. Imports are cheap so long as transportation costs (read: diesel fuel–trucks, trains, ships) are not excessive. And, you will note that the current high cost of oil these days is attributed in large part to increased demand for it where? YES–in China. So, while it pains those of us who must or choose to travel, the price of oil if not moderated could end up affecting China’s ability to flood the U.S. with inexpensive products, the trade balance, what products are available to those Americans who live off the beaten path and even possibly reinvigorate some local producers or industries that have suffered as a result of imports. Farfetched? Let’s wait and see.
Tags: China, imports, oil, trade balance, Walmart
In the next few or several years it seems reasonable to conclude that it will become economically and technologically feasible for large numbers of people to live “off the grid.” As the costs for oil, gas, coal and other sources of power go up, the relative cost of alternates such as solar go down. The fact that people could do this, doesn’t mean they will. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: ecology, living off the land, mass media, socializing with others, solar power, sustainable development, technology
It’s Father’s Day so I am taking a break. My father is long gone–only a dim memory remains and what I know from others. He died when I was seven. I am a father but away from the young persons (no longer children but not quite fully functional adults even at 22 and 25) while we spend the summer in New Mexico. They remembered; sending a card and calling. What a change from a few years ago! But we will leave that be.