Streets icy as skating rinks and other Arctic front symptoms have gripped my hometown and much of the country today. How are you staying warm? How much are you spending to do it? How much is the earth spending to do it? I had considered posting today on the historic, heartening climate change agreement between the U.S. and China to reduce emissions. But, Bill McKibben of ...
Changing To Thursday Posts
Good morning! Starting this week, I'll be posting on Thursdays, instead of Sundays. The reason is that I want to get back to the swell old-timey concept of Sunday being a day of rest. (While I love to write, it's not the same as resting.) My next full post will be Thursday, September 18th. It's called "How To Find And Keep A ...
Desire Lines
“Those are desire lines,” Greg murmured, almost under his breath. We were gazing at the faint beginnings of a dirt foot-trail that went across a small field to a major intersection.. We were in Corvallis, Oregon, discussing the town’s bicycle-pedestrian situation (we work in transportation). “Desire lines?” I said, intrigued. “Yeah. They get created where a sidewalk would be desired." ...
How To Stay Cool Without Air Conditioning
When we’re rich in what matters we’re resilient. We create fun and comfort in ways that are sustainable. We've heard this will be a doozy of a hot summer. This week's post is on how to stay cool without using air conditioning, which burns lots of the fossil fuels that drive climate change. These self-cooling skills don't ...
Top Ten Things To Happily Live Without
Being rich in what matters flows from what we do and who we are with, not from the things in our lives. Research shows that the peak in U.S. happiness happened when we were much less materially wealthy than we are now. That said, a confession: I do believe in collecting lots of good books, and ...
Being Grounded Versus Grandiose
Caveman Bridge, spanning the Rogue River in Grants Pass, Oregon This past week I got to walk to and from work on Caveman Bridge, across the stunning Rogue River, in brilliant spring sunshine. I was staying in Grants Pass, Oregon for my work in rural transit. I felt like I was inhabiting heaven on earth as I strode over the ...
Take 40 Seconds To Help Slow Climate Change
When we are rich in what matters, we know we are part of something greater than ourselves. The climate we share with each other, and with all species, is greater than ourselves. Our climate sustains all of our lives, even though it is invisible. And it is heating up due to our burning of fossil fuels, ...
Five Little-Known Tips For Disaster Preparedness
The record-breaking cold in much of the U.S. reminds me that we're all vulnerable to extreme weather and disasters, and need to be prepared for them. Climate change means more of everything: drought, destructive hurricanes, heat, cold and floods. It's broader than just global warming. It’s our internal resources -- our attitude and coping skills – that ...
Take Two Minutes For Climate Change Before Midnight Tonight
I'm doing a Friday post instead of my usual Sunday post for an important reason: midnight tonight marks the close of public comments on whether the public lands of the United States should be opened for commercial hydraulic fracturing (fracking). I think they should not, and my reasons are below, in the comment I ...
The Best Part Of The Day
"What was the best part of your day?" my husband asked me last night in bed. I was cuddled up with my head on his shoulder. Sometimes in this On the Columbia River yesterday: a symbolic flotilla against proposed fossil fuel exports that would mean game over for our climate nightly ritual of ours I think for ...
