Left Temecula California this morning and arrived in Ensenada around 11:00. Taking it easy now anticipating New Year's at Hussongs. Beautiful weather and delighted to be back in Mexico!

Started the journey south today. 7 1/2 hr drive from Sacramento to Temecula. This puts me within about 4 hrs of Ensenada. Light drive tomorrow after a major one today. 

Not much to say, feeling completely at ease with my decision to become an expat. Yet that's a long time to just think. I am deeply concerned about the situation in Gaza. The Israelis have shown yet again that revenge is sweeter than the greatest possible wisdom......how very, very sad. Perhaps it is time to redefine Holocaust itself. For example, should not the Native Peoples of The Western Hemisphere be included in this category. 90 million reduced to 1 million and a half....is this not genocide?? Or has it something to do with them being "pagans" and not Judeo-Christians?

By the way, it is possible to make comments. Just click on comments and post. I will not return anything, if you want to get into a discourse e-mail me.      

Well, I made it through the "holidays" in good condition. Since leaving Ukiah I have been staying with my daughter Kersti and son-in-law Bill in Sacramento. Day after tomorrow I leave to really start my motor journey to my home in Mexico. Had a real nice talk with my son Zack while he was here and yesterday Kersti and I went out to lunch to say good-bye.

New Year's eve I will be at my very favorite bar in the world, Hussongs', in Ensenada. I usually get there around nine and sidle up to the bar where the "old Gringo" expats like to sit and chew the fat. Remember....I am 67, so terms like that mean something and are not just quaint phrases.

By 10:00 the place is wall to wall with 90% locals (meant in the most honored sense) and 10% Gringos'. Music, talk, songs.....I love it! No throbbing beat here, no half naked gringas' trying to out do each others inhibitions, and thank the gods, no testosterone poisoned gringos' trying to out machisimo each other. Just dust, genuine people, songs from the Mexican heart and a celebration of life. Can't wait!!

For those who would like to know my opinions regarding a great many issues involving politics and the environment be sure and access my son's blog: http://kaldveer.blogspot.com . He is a speaker of the truth and speaks for his old man too. 

The time has come for a realistic and informed world view. We must as a species move out of our "dazed" adolescence. Become aware, really aware. Watch the documentaries Zeitgeist I and Zeitgeist II and then check out http://thezeitgeistmovement.com . Let's become all we as a species is able to become; intelligent, creative, loving and free from a crippling monetary system that enslaves us.

I finally got around to doing a "test" pack of my car this morning in preparation for my departure for Mexico Monday. I've been telling my students over the years about how impressed I was in reading one of Mahatma Gandhi's biographies and a reference to the very small amount of "things" he had when he died. The claim is that it all fit in a shoe box. Exaggeration or not it certainly made me as a young college student in the '60's question my own already growing collection of things.

Well I've had lot's of things since then......houses, cars (and more cars), clothes, motorcycles, horses and well, yes, a whole lot of "things".  Although I claim absolutely no similarity to Gandhi except that I do believe peace and love are indeed the finest of "things", I was able to fit all of my worldly goods into my Subaru Impreza (and not the wagon) without losing vision out the back window. Now to be fair, I admit that there is some stuff down in Baja (a kayak and my dive gear and a very few "things" I cherish) but even they could fit on my roof. The point is, is that for those who have heard me tell this story about Gandhi and/or those who think maybe he had something there, I can tell you from experience that it can be done and it feels wonderful. 

In order that people all over the world might have the same delightful choice I have had, it is important that we continue to monitor very closely those who can't seem to get enough "things". The separation between the "haves" and "have nots" grows dramatically every year and more people worldwide are forced to live in poverty while a very few (read corporate heads) are amassing fortunes in the 100's of billions ( this is not an exaggeration). Some of that money is used for things like covering the bar stools on their private yacht with the foreskins of Humpback Whale penises. Exaggeration you say......check out the bar on the older Onassis

 yacht (The Book of the Penis, Maggie Paley).

I reiterate....I made the choice voluntarily to be without "things" at this time in my life just because it feels good, most are not that lucky. On this Solstice day I thank the Gods/Goddesses at my good fortune....and that it all fits in my car! 

 

Since the year 2004 I have been keeping a private journal. There are now 650 pages of writings regarding just about everything. Although I do not intend to share all of those on this blogspot I do see where keeping the journal and taking the time and energy to do these blogs (plus finish my historical novel) may be more writing than I want to do....on the other hand maybe not, we'll see.

I have come upon a solution. I will continue to write in my journal as a top priority and simply cut and paste those parts that I am prepared to share with an "audience". My journal writing will continue once I actually hit the road for Mexico (which will be the 30th of Dec.) and then there will be more to read on this blog. 

Nonetheless there are times when I will just go straight to this blog as I have done tonight. The reason being is that I was channel surfing TV tonight and came across the movie "Twelve Angry Men" (the old black & white Henry Fonda version). I have seen this movie at least 3 times but was immediately caught up in the skill and intensity of the actors. Damned if I didn't watch it to the end once again! While watching it I wanted to yell out, "now here is acting, here is drama, here is life, why is anyone satisfied with the pap that is given the TV audience today?" Well, you know as well as I that the media is now, like never before, only another source of profit for a very few (the corporations) and they know the public is just too complacent to demand better. What a sorry state of affairs.

See if you can't find this "work of art",  sit back and be reminded of what we are capable of.

Oh....and happy Solstice!! In just a few days will be the oldest, most sacred ceremony of human kind. The beginning of the return of the Sun to light our world and to renew life on the Planet. It is quite probable that even old Homo erectus celebrated this day. Put out a stone!

By the way, The Robotic Interstellar Space Probe, Voyager I, is almost through the terminus shock and should soon pass through The Heliopause. This is the first object made by we Earthlings that will entirely escape the influence of our Sun, and leave this Solar System for interstellar space. Google it....worth the contemplation.  

I can see right now that this blogspot is going to be great fun for me. I also realize that it will be a necessary avenue for my thoughts now that I won't be in the classroom anymore. Nice thing for anyone checking in is that they can just jump right out again. Not so with my students over the years!

I will occasionally include a quote. This one from Leonardo Da Vinci happens to be relevant to my recent life change: "Iron rusts from disuse; water loses it's purity from stagnation and in cold weather it becomes frozen; in the same way inaction saps the vigors of the mind." Nuff said.

My lunch with my "buddies" was all that I hoped it would be.....good friends expressing a lifetime of respect and love.

Joining my three oldest and dearest friends (Frank Denney, John Erving and Bill Symon) from my youth for lunch in Sausalito today. We first met in the fourth grade (1951) at Encinal School in Menlo Park, California. Went to different high schools but always remained friends. The last time we four were together was on my 50th birthday 17 years ago. We all still live in Northern California, different towns but close enough. If you ever saw the movie "Stand by Me", these are the guys I lived out that reality with! Later after entering high school we also played out the whole "American Graffiti" scene. I've been real lucky.

This is an historical moment for me. Today I completed my last day of college teaching after 35 years in the classroom. I am leaving for Mexico on the 30th of this month to begin my residency with the Humpbacks/Blues in The Sea of Cortez. This is also my first blog.