The chrysalis has joined the other inhabitants of the Plate of Curiosities. You can see it next to the robin’s egg and the cicada wing.
Friends, I’m tapped out. The news of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing last night was shocking. I suppose that I, like most everyone, thought she’d hang in there until January. She was that fierce and that strong. RBG was extraordinary and she will be greatly missed. Her legacy will be enshrined in history. McConnell’s will live in infamy.
Keep up the fight. We can’t back off now. She wouldn’t have wanted that.
I woke up too early and because my first thought was about RBG, I couldn’t get back to sleep. So it’s mowing and cleaning today to keep me busy. Don’s off to recycle.
In the past two days, we’ve watched two documentaries that I highly recommend. The first is Unfit, and it’s from Duty to Warn, a large group of mental health experts who have spoken out about Trump. It centers on Trump’s pathology and how dangerous he is. It’s available on several platforms, but we watched it on Amazon Prime for $4.99.
The second, which we watched last night, is The Social Dilemma and it’s available for free on Netflix. Excellent. It’s a warning about social media (from those who helped develop it) and the ways in which it is changing the shape of who were are, how we respond to things, how it effects children who are exposed to too much of it, how it shapes public thought, and it explains the whole “how can they believe that?” question I seem to constantly utter. It’s really well done and I urge you to watch it. I know that both Don and I are thinking long and hard about it today.
The heat kicked on this morning even though we were determined not to turn it on. It went down to 39 degrees last night and will be even colder tonight. This will last for a few days and then we’ll be back to more normal temps. I am currently wearing my pajamas, a hooded sweatshirt with Escape to Margaritaville on the back, and a wool cap I got in Edinburgh. Yikes.
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
There are no words for the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
Such a loss .
As for social media we don’t understand the time people put into Facebook or Instagram.
Our time on this earth is so short and valuable why waste it?
It’s about far more than that, though. Watch it if you can.
Stay safe, Linda!
Deeply saddened by the news last night of Justice Ginsburg’s passing. I hope that my daughter (as a young lawyer and academic) continues to follow in the footsteps of such a trailblazer.
I hope she does, too. No better role model!
Stay safe, Barbara.
A great person…prayers for her family…history in the making continues…brendab
Thanks, Brenda.
Stay safe.
P. S. Did I miss your comments on how you liked Penny’s book? Brendab
Still reading. I take my time with her books. They deserve to be read slowly.
You are the second person to mention The Social Dilemma in the past 24 hours. We must watch it. Even without watching it yet, I have slowly backed away from social media. I used to be addicted to FB and now that I’ve disabled the app on my phone, that’s really helped. And I don’t miss it one bit. I’ve been going through all the accounts I follow on IG and have eliminated 200 of them, so far. I’m not following as many blogs either. I can only speak for myself, but it’s amazing how much time I’ve wasted on social media instead of LIVING my life.
I am gathering tonight at my First Best Friend’s house, for our annual women’s fall solstice circle. This year, we’ll be meeting in Cin’s back yard, in a social distance circle. It’ll be cold (my furnace kicked on for the first time this morning, too – down to 39 last night), but we’ll be bundled up and have a fire going in the middle of our circle. You betcha one of our topics will be Ruth Bader Ginsburg and what we, as women, can keep doing to move forward.
xoxo
It’s about far more than time spent on social media, though. You might find it shocking. I did.
I’m on Facebook only because it’s a way to keep in touch with all my former students (and there are hundreds and hundreds) and colleagues in the theater. But I go on it once a day for about 5 minutes. That’s it.
I don’t follow many blogs anymore because there simply aren’t that many that I’m interested in! So many have stopped blogging.
So wonderful that you can talk with your friends tonight, share ideas, and be together. Enjoy, Melanie.
Stay safe.
Oh, this documentary sounds even more interesting now! I will wait until a night where Brian’s able to watch it with me. (Not having to get up at 3:15 a.m. for work.)
I’ve noticed a lot of people have stopped blogging, too. I think most simply stick with IG. And then there’s a couple of bloggers that “fell off the face of the earth” within this past year. No one seems to know what happened to them. They won’t answer emails or even snail mail.
xoxo
That’s always concerning – I worry about the blogger. Is she alright? Did something terrible happen?
xo
Yes, to what you and Melanie both are saying, Claudia. Favorite blogs…gone. With no explanation. Doesn’t seem fair to long-time, loyal readers to be left in the dark, worried for what may have happened. I know you’d never do that to us, Claudia! I think we spoke of this previously. You’d at least give an explanation. It could be as simple as, “I can’t do this anymore; please understand.” Or, “I’m taking a break. I’m exhausted from the state of the world.” Or, “I’m having health issues.” Or, “I don’t feel I have anything left to write about.” Do you think they still keep the blog even without postings, for the occasional, passing click that still gives them ad income? Is that how it works?
Oh what a loss! Prayers to her family, friends, and the rest of us. I’m not sure what kind of immediate future we might have to experience, but I will ty to remain positive. We must stay strong, we must fight for what is right, we must honor RBG’s memory.
It was cold here last night too…our heat was on briefly. But, the sun is shining today. I can only imagine your outfit…it resembles mine…only without the hat! Stay safe! ;)
I agree, we must honor her memory.
It still feels cold here, though it warmed up slightly outside, it never really warmed up inside!
Stay safe, Donna.
My collegue told me about “The Social Dilemma”. Everything is said in this film. Unfortunately, many children are left alone with all the possibilities that the www offers. Very worrying! Children get lost.
If I am not strong enought I think I am just too old to understand why smartphones and tablets and computers are soooooooo important in school. But then, thanks for this film! I’m sure I am totally right to have my doubts. I’m more of a blackboard/chalk teacher, and I love posters more than Power Point Presentations. There is too much of distraction for children using a computer and beeing online.
All the best!
I agree! Blackboard and chalk and posters are what I prefer!
Thanks, Regula!
Stay safe.
I’m worried about what is going to happen when more teachers are quarantined. Who is going to do their work? There are no substitutes in secundary school …
I know. That’s very worrisome, Regula.
xo
Prayers for RBG’s family…and for all of us.
Amen.
Stay safe, Shanna.
I have no hope. Not that the mentally deranged dictator will be defeated, nor that our country will ever recover from all the tragedy in 2020 to date. We are all screwed. I’m glad I’m old, looking at fewer & fewer years ahead.
I never lose hope, Mary. I can’t go there.
Hang in there and stay safe!
A powerfuly thing that RBG always said was to never give up and to always fight on. Mary Scott, I feel so much like you do. Spent some “driveway time” with my daughter, daughter in law and wee granddaughter this afternoon, and we are all heartbroken. But, we said that was enough of that, we have to move forward. In her memory. For her. And for the wee ones, most especially. Then we ordered her a RBG shirt in size 9 months. Getting old pretty much does suck, but the alternative is much worse. I so want you to feel some hope. It is not easy. But I feel to lose all hope is to let “them” win. We just can’t do that. Especially without a fight. ♡
Beautifully said, Chris.
hej, mary scott …
it’s been a lousy (to put it mildly) year so far, hasn’t it?
i pray that you get back the feeling of hope. given all that’s going on in the world, there are/will certainly be tough times to deal with, but better days are ahead, too. even now, in the midst of much awfulness, there are good and beautiful things happening. we are one day closer to a vaccine. there are lots of people quietly helping other people, animals and the world. the sun rises every day. there’s music, books and other art, indoor plumbing, phones to help stay in contact with family and friends. people who love you. God, who loves us all. puns (a personal favorite … insect puns really bug me … haha). and a bear that chose to leave claudia and don alone. that’s just a start …
praying for you.
hope you are having an easier day and stay safe!
kathy in iowa
I just wrote a long comment and lost it, ugh!
I thought RBG would make it to Jan too. Can you imagine the pressure it must have been for her? I’m sure she was trying. I read that she wrote that it was her wish to not be replaced until after the election. I don’t think Mitch will honor her wishes.
I will watch The Social Dilemma. I like FB and IG and I like to think I am discerning enough not to be influenced but I imagine I just don’t realize it.
Stay safe.
Way too much pressure to put on anyone. She wrote that wish in a letter to her granddaughter.
Mitch only cares about power.
Stay safe, Marilyn!
I am heartbroken. Not to mention all the other feelings about RBG and all surrounding this — sad, inspired, angry, so much more. There aren’t enough words — and I’d be preaching to the choir, anyway.
The documentaries both sound very good. Thanks for the recommendations.
The fire is going here. It got down to 31 last night — I was glad my plants were in. I finally have the house up to the low 60s. Grateful for polar fleece and warm socks! But it’s a sunny day, great for a walk or hike and certainly for stacking the wood that got delivered yesterday. Off I go.
You’re at the cottage, right? It’s getting down to 35 here tonight! Yikes. My plants should be okay but my goodness, its only mid-September! Stay safe, Jeanie.
I am so very sad today. I like you thought she would just ‘hang on’ but I’m still incredibly thankful she stayed with us as long as she did. Her loss is huge and my anger is over ridding my sadness and that makes me angry again. I will not stop fighting but will work hard to maintain some balance in these scary days. Thank you and Don for being such great friends and thoughtful citizens and sharing it with us. Hugs!
I found myself not being able to write too much about her this morning because I was so sad and so angry. I understand. What makes me even angrier is that immediately after I said to Don, “Oh no! Ruth Bader Ginsburg is dead!” I was worrying about the timing and the vacancy on the SC. We can’t even fully mourn her passing because we’re so fearful about what might happen!
Balance is my goal, too. It’s very hard to achieve at times.
Love to you, Linda. Stay safe.
I was so shocked and sad about Justice Ginsburg’s death. I too had assumed she would hang on until January. She tried. I hope she didn’t suffer too much although she must have. People are being educated on all she accomplished which is one positive.
Thanks for the movie tips. I always appreciate them.
I’m very afraid of any appointment to the Supreme Court by Trump being rammed through by McConnell.
Stay safe, Kay.
sad.
angry, too … that there is all this talk by pino, mcconnell, etc. about nominating someone for the sad, brand-new opening on the supreme court before there is even a chance for her family and others to grieve, before a service is held … so disrespectful that it’s sickening. and that pino wants someone on the court asap when pino and congress still can’t get it together about covid-19 assistance, etc. when millions of people are hurting, dying, can’t meet their bills, when there’s a critical election less than seven weeks away … just shows what some so-called “leaders” priorities are.
thanks for the recommendations. both documentaries sound fascinating and also scary … but information is power.
hope the chores are long done and you’ve been taking it easy. and that you sleep better tonight.
i am very glad and grateful that i could talk with and see members of my family one way or another today. :)
grocery shopping went okay … didn’t find the kind of bleach wipes shown to get rid of coronavirus, but otherwise found everything on the lists and pretty quickly, too. am home and hoping to read a while after ironing clothes and washing dishes.
hope you have a good night and stay safe.
kathy in iowa
They were like vultures, hovering over Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s body, ready to swoop in and replace her. Just appalling. What disgusting excuses for human beings they are.
Enjoy your weekend, Kathy.
Stay safe.
I was so melancholy that it was hard to pull myself out of bed Saturday morning. It’s such a heaviness, this burden of the country’s problems. We had a fairly-early errand which couldn’t be avoided so, unlike other times when I feel I just want to get back home (“virus safety”), I said to my husband, “Keep driving.” As we got further north up the coast, the oppressive smoke haze from the Calif wildfires was better and, although the beaches were extremely crowded (they’re like this all the time now; people have discovered motorhomes and trailers as a way to be self-contained in a pandemic; it’s a way to get out of the house), we found a good spot and boy-howdy did I let that salty sea air and light and sound and coolness envelope me; the best medicine.
We’ve got a bad wildfire burning about a hundred miles from us that’s really threatening the home of a friend of my husband’s. They got out their animals and then went back to apply their own phos-chek/fire retardant to try to save their home. They’ve since seen the planes above which are also doing the ‘water’ drops, seemingly directly on top of their house. What an ordeal. Don’t know yet whether their property will escape the flames or not. Very stressful.
My idiot next-door neighbor, for whom I can make no more excuses nor give him a pass (on anything), got another dog and I’ve been devastated because he is such a neglectful dog owner. I just don’t need to be worrying about one.more.thing but now that I’ve seen the puppy and know that it’s there, although the guy has blocked us off with a big, ugly fence, it’s hard to get it off my mind because I’ve been thru so many go’rounds with this neighbor.
But something (good) happened: We’ve been trying to corral a sick cat and I’d noticed a direction he’d take off in which is where we have a younger neighbor who’s almost completed all her schooling to be a veterinarian (she’s cat friendly; the animal whisperer; she rehabs pit bulls and other dogs deemed unsuitable for anything but humane euthanasia). She knocked at our door on Friday night and wondered if we knew anything about the cat, so we got up to speed on it and now she’s taken over the responsibility and is trying to save him because he’s letting her handle him; so, phew, what a relief for me and my husband.
Also, she mentioned this puppy now at the house between us and she actually said to the guy who got the dog, “You’ve got to be frick’in kidding me, right?” (She used a more harsh ‘f’ word. Not a gal to mess with, this one.) And that’s because, with me, we were the ones, she and I, a year ago, who worked hard to re-home his other big dog (big dogs aren’t easy to adopt out; this was a Mastiff) which he abandoned after seven years, simply because he refused to fix a faulty gate, and the poor dog, who was lonely and with only borderline care, kept getting out and it was just a miracle that the dog hadn’t met a bad end for all the time he was on the streets before winding up again (and again) with the city animal-control services. (This was a naturally wonderful, sweet, non-aggressive dog. My husband and I just adored him although all we could ever do was just try to reach down and pet him over the fence where we couldn’t be seen by his owner.)
Anyway, his gate, which he still refuses to repair, was agape yesterday and this veterinary-gal has already now once already had to retrieve the little puppy out of the busy street and get him behind their faulty gate, saying, “I’m not going thru this again, Vicki. How many times…daily?…did I do this with the other dog over the past years, but no more. He can’t prove he’s a responsible pet owner. Every time I see the puppy in the street from now on, it’s gonna go to the rescue center and he can pay to bail out the dog, which as we know from prior experience that he’ll get tired of doing. Let it get on paper with the city and shelters how many times it happens, because he’s just going to continue to use city resources and they’ll only put up with that for so long.” You go girl.
It is beyond comprehension why someone like this keeps getting a dog which isn’t part of a family life but just stuck in a backyard, never seeing anyone. The dog with such people must apparently be viewed only as a ‘guard’ for property, for keeping away an intruder or something. He only gets very large dogs.
It’s helped to share the worry with my ‘good’ neighbor because my husband and I are back to talking a lot about moving. One more major relocation for our lives, although we’d thought the subject to be ‘dead’. We’re very interested in Wisconsin, actually. But with our undesirable (for the most part) neighbors, our ‘dying’ small town, the fires, the drought, weather that’s too hot too much of the year, earthquakes; we’ve about had enough of my home town and also home state of Calif. Of course it’s compounded by all the preoccupation with Covid and politics, too. But not a great time. Nope.
When you and Don made the decision to move from San Diego to New York, what kinds of discussions did the two of you have about, in your case (Michigan and other 4-season places where you’d lived), making a return to a place where it snowed? You’d grown up in that kind of weather but Don hadn’t, right? I know you both did it for the work, but I’m sure that having indeed grown up in ‘cold country’, you were the necessary guide for Don, for him to learn how to be prepared, say, to drive in bad-weather conditions, live in a place where you have to dig out a car from snow, how to protect a home and also keep yourself warm, etc. (I don’t even own a full-length coat! It’s a rare day where I even wear a cardigan sweater. And I almost never wear slacks/pants/capris. I don’t ‘do’ layers!)
It’s how it would be for me, never having lived in snow or knowing how to prepare for it, whereas my husband was raised in the Midwest and lived his early adulthood there; so, he knows. Like, with being a transplant so to speak, how (today) does Don feel about being a New Yorker? What does he miss the most about his native California? I’d just be so interested to know how he feels. Because relocating is not something to be taken lightly, especially in the retirement years (when you’re not moving near ‘family’ or that sort of situation). In our case, too, due to real estate, we’d never be able to return to California because we couldn’t afford to buy a home or even rent as both scenarios are ‘way too expensive for people on a fixed income.
It really is a VERY big decision. Do weigh in!
Meant to stay that your bowl of curiosities is certainly, well, CURIOUS! I can’t get over THAT HAND. You’re not thinking it’s from a baby doll, right? That it’s from a vase? Those ceramic/decorative ‘lady’ vases were so popular in the 1940s & 50s; I’ve recently seen repros for sale.
Hasn’t it been interesting to watch on TV in the past couple of days, all the tributes to Justice Ginsburg. Conversely, as to your sentence about McConnell, I’ve decided the trifecta of him, Barr and Trump is a real ‘clear and present danger’ to my life. More than one commentator is saying that McConnell is completely driven by power and his leadership position in the Senate, and they don’t care how they’re viewed, even as hypocrites, as long as they can try to wedge in one more conservative judge. You watch, they’re gonna try to have it be that 33-yr-old woman who’ll wind up being on the bench for a generation or more.
Well, we moved for our work, especially Don’s. It was tricky for me as I gave up full-time employment as an Associate Professor. There are many times that I’ve felt a twinge of regret about that but the truth is, I was getting burnt out. But we’d have another nice pension if I’d stayed.
Don had an unstable childhood and after his parents divorced, he lived with his mom who was mentally unstable. They moved a lot, each time into a tinier apartment. They were on welfare, etc. Then, when he left home and became an actor, he moved from job to job, got married in Nebraska, moved back to Los Angeles, divorced, and spent a great deal of his time on the road doing plays at various theaters. He owned two boxes of possessions when I met him. So he was used to being in a lot of different environments and experienced winters when he lived in NE. Nevertheless, he’s a California boy. So when we moved here, it was a big change for him, but he really liked living in four seasons. He adjusted pretty well, though every winter for a while there he fantasized about moving back to California. He was so used to living places for a shortish period of time that he got itchy to live somewhere else. But we’ve been out here 19 years now and he really loves it. The challenge for him was putting down roots somewhere and sticking it out until he felt that he was finally home.
We miss CA, of course, but it’s not the same state we lived in 19 years ago. It was already changing then, but the perfect San Diego weather is not perfect anymore. It’s humid, very hot for long periods of time, there are forest fires, and it’s way, way too crowded there now. Now that his father is no longer with us, he doesn’t feel the need to go back there. Of course he goes back for work, like Pygmalion a few years back at the Globe and Margaritaville in La Jolla – and he really enjoys it, but he enjoys it because he doesn’t live there anymore.
It’s always a trade off. I had more people in my life in CA because I was part of a training program and a theater community, so I had a lot more opportunities for socialization. I’m an introvert and I don’t know a lot of people around here. The people I do know are my neighbors and all the theater people I’ve worked with out East. It’s harder to make new friends when you’re older. Thank goodness Rick and Doug are here!
Don, on the other hand, is far more gregarious than me and he has friends through his involvement with AA. But we spend most of our time with each other and we’re fine with that.
It takes a while to make the adjustment but since your husband grew up in the midwest, he’ll be able to help you. I understand your fears about not being near family. We haven’t been near family in 19 years. If that’s important to you, then you have to consider that. Are you thinking about Wisconsin because you have cousins or some sort of family nearby?
Don misses the beach and the ocean. But truth be told, we didn’t get there very often when we lived there. I miss it, too. I miss living near a lake, having a cottage to go to, which was a big part of my young life, but that’s not been a part of my life in well over 30 years. I strongly believe we all have not just one journey, but many journeys and adventures. I’ve changed my job status and career more than once. I’ve moved to strange cities all by myself, not knowing anyone, to start graduate school or a new job. It can be frightening, but in the end, it’s very rewarding. Think about ‘quality of life.’ If you think your life, emotionally and physically, will be better somewhere other than California, then go for it.
Hope this helps.
I really appreciate the time you took to give me such a substantive reply; thank you.
What happened is that we were looking at a ‘political’ map tracking trends as regards electoral votes and, well, it had been such a bad week with wildfire fear and then just fed up with my neighbor to where I said, “I can’t live here anymore. So, what if we ‘translated’ this electoral-vote map for a minute and just look at these states on the U.S. map and think again about what possible states could be places to LIVE.” And my husband, for once (well, since a long time back, actually), went with the discussion and it was HE who came up with Wisconsin after doing some more research because we’d narrowed it down to upper Midwest or the Northeast (as we do have friends who’ve retired to the beach year ’round in New Hampshire who’ve been urging us to join them [we met when we were all living on the Gulf Coast but, unlike us, they’re East Coast familiar because they were initially from Maine]).
We’ve coincidentally spent several hours at the computer this Sunday afternoon, looking at places to live like Oshkosh, Appleton and Fond du Lac although I’m more interested in Madison. What we’re finding in all of these places is, surprisingly, not that much inventory in terms of what’s for sale, at least what’s right for us (single-family dwelling; not interested in a condo or duplex and I really don’t want stairs or a huge yard; I also don’t know why we need a basement!), and the prices of homes are much higher than we’d anticipated (in our case, too, we have to factor in property taxes which we’re not used to paying in a high amount these past six or seven years because we’ve got that Prop 13 property tax break in California which keeps our annual property tax below $1000 for the year; I inherited this directly from my mother by not selling her house and instead refinancing her reverse mortgage loan; she had bled the equity for her healthcare and we, in turn, didn’t have too much to put toward a down payment as we didn’t make much profit on the sale of our own house, so we don’t really have any equity either, but home values are up in my neighborhood to where even with selling our house in an ‘as-is’ condition and taking the hit for it being in stalled remodeling, we could make a decent-enough profit; however, by the time we’d pull off a move, these home values in SoCalif might dive due to the U.S. economy and not knowing where it’ll be in 2021-22 after unemployment, Covid, post-election, etc.); so … I said to my husband that maybe we need to pick another state; like maybe we should look at Michigan or Minnesota. Or …. ???
(It’s taken him awhile to cave to the idea of living in cold weather again; but he said he’s now willing to give up his desire for a warm clime since I’m desiring a colder one; and, sadly, California is likely going to just keep getting hotter and hotter to where it’s not comfortable. It’s pretty essential for me to live near a body of water but I can’t take heat & humidity like, say, Florida.) I have a cousin in Pittsburgh and she sure likes it there after working & living in the city for, gosh, over thirty years now (she’d formerly lived in San Francisco for quite a while). I have two other native-born SoCalif cousins who both left cold-turkey for a colder-winter state, one in Illinois and one in Indiana, and they never looked back.
Of course if Trump wins in November, we’re back to talking a lot about moving out of the country although it’s not easy to pull off. (None of this is!) We know of someone who lost their home in one of the wildfires a couple of years ago, so they lost all their possessions of course as well, and it took over a year before all the insurance claims settled out, but they had retired, were down to about only two suitcases full of belongings, were renting while deciding whether or not to rebuild, but then made the ultimate decision to sell their burned-out lot and move to Australia where the wife has relatives. But there’s the rub; they sort of had an ‘in’ although I know few details.
I was talking with a friend this morning on the phone and she is beginning to entertain, with sincerity and seriousness (it’s not a small thing), a tentative plan to move to Canada if Trump wins the election. I told her I’d been at that point in 2016 but it’s not so easy; it helps if you know somebody there and they seem to like it if you have a job. She said, “They don’t want retirees?” I said I wasn’t sure; I need to beef up on it again. Of course right now, aren’t borders still closed due to Covid. But she’s looking at Vancouver because she has relatives over the border in Washington. Hard to leave other family where she is now, but she said she has to do what makes her feel safe.
I’ve been interested before in Ontario near the Niagara Falls region because I’d seen some of the area on a TV series (was actually a cooking show) and they seem to have a lot of organic farms (veggies, fruits) and vineyards. I’m speaking of an area which is like 25 miles northwest of, say, Buffalo NY. But I know I’m about to hear from yet ANOTHER cousin of mine who worked in Cleveland for a few years on a job assignment and he’s probably going to give me an earful that I am just not prepared for the kind of winters in this area nor would I be escaping a hot/humid summer and I better think twice.
You can find any reason not to do something. Just as you can find enough TO do something. I just sorta wish we were 10 or 15 years younger.
Anyway, I think 2021 is going to be a very-busy year for my husband and me because after we finish decluttering and downsizing our possessions (like, in for real; do what you say and don’t keep talking about it!), we’ll either finally be ready to overhaul the house we’re in and stay, which I really don’t think is a possibility because we’re just too unhappy with the neighborhood and town (well, I-Vicki am, that’s for sure), with wildfire every year not to be just brushed off (as not a big deal because they’re not a ‘new’ thing here), because it is, and the intensity and breadth of wildfire is only increasing; OR we’re making a major move to another part of the country; OR we’re going out of country.
(Frankly, I wouldn’t rule out joining my good friend in Vancouver if that’s what she decided; I haven’t been there for a long time but it was a beautiful, clean city and I enjoyed taking the ferry over to Vancouver Island because Victoria is SUCH a pretty city! It certainly would keep me at an ocean. But I feel like I’d come across in my reading that Vancouver is an expensive city in which to live or I assume buy a home. Although it doesn’t get a lot of snow; just a lot of rain! These are all things that have to be carefully examined. Toronto would probably be a better choice.
Again, no place is perfect.)
My husband is always the one wanting to stay in Calif more than myself; however, when Trump won in 2016, he was talking about Canada even then. I suppose in 2016, although spirits were crushed, a lot of us probably thought that maybe we could get thru the four years okay-enough and that somebody would keep Trump away from those nuclear buttons. But, now, we know what he’s capable of and also how much power he can actually wield, such that four more years are … well, I can’t even. I think any of us don’t want to give up on the U.S., we love our country; but, like my Vancouver-thinking friend said, with democracy at stake, there are choices for us to make (while we still can).
I sometimes think about Canada – my mom was born there, of course – but it’s even colder and more wintry than it is here, at least on this end of the country.
We’ve also considered moving abroad if we had to. But like you, we have very little disposable income. Sigh.
Here’s to beaches and salt air and neighbors who step in when an idiot adopts yet another dog that he will ignore.
Wisconsin? Get ready for cold weather, Vicki! But seriously, I understand why you’re thinking of moving. I truly do.
Stay safe.
Thanks, Claudia. It’s really UNsettling to still be feeling UNsettled at this age.
Our problem is that we never have enough money to give us a whole lot of leverage when making these major life decisions like yet again another move.
Same here.
hej, vicki …
thanks to you and the lady two doors down for being kind, helping the mastiff and now the puppy. i, too, would call animal welfare if i found a loose dog and especially a pup … hopefully that mean man can be banned from having animals at home. thanks to you both for also helping the cats.
best wishes and prayers on your big decision about maybe moving. and for your husband’s friend near a fire … for everyone else dealing with that and so many other awful things.
hope you have something relaxing and enjoyable to do. and stay safe!
kathy in iowa
thanks, kathy; sorry I poured out my heart a little too much …
Justice Ginsburg’s death is a tragedy for political reasons, and a big loss for those of us wishing for more cooperation between parties. She was even pals with Scalia, one of the biggest turds around. An important triumvirate has been kicked out from under our democracy with the loss of Cummings, Lewis, and Ginsburg. I hope that the Biden campaign is smart enough to make their legacy remain fresh in our minds. Really, for 4 years now, it’s been blow after blow after blow. We’re all reeling. Be kind to yourself, rest when you can, and enjoy the last of the summer. (We had to turn our heat on too the other day!. Usually we can wait until Oct. And our oil guy won’t come anymore because the overgrowth beside the driveway scratches his new truck. He’s been gabbing about the “new” truck for 2-3 years now. He just hates our driveway.).
I don’t like having to buy oil this early in the season!
Thanks, Nora.
Stay safe.