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learnteachis weird juxtapositions, and for me, the realization that I'm not a young party animal.
But outside the SCA, I never really was. Wish Thorfinn or Deena were here so I could follow them though! Walked by the Oldchurch as I'm close to it (hostel The Globe is in the Red Light district) and walked past a kindergarden, where all the parents were wheeling up on their bicycles to drop off the children. On either side, a red light house, in operation at 9:30 AM on a Wednesday morning, women in the windows.
The church is interesting; it is the oldest stone building in Amsterdam, and you can see all the additions made through the years. Got a picture or two.
Stopped at a local's cafe, heard conversations in 4 identifiable languages, drank a cup of coffee for a decent price (1.1 euro as opposed to 3 in Paris downtown) and read the guide. SItting outside looking over the canal, and all the tall narrow houses with beams at the top jutting out. Hearing dutch, which includes the phrases "Yep" and "Yup" but not "Yasureyabetcha" and then more soft consonants than I've ever heard.
Wandering to place myself in the city now; off to the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum, look like not too bad a walk.
...
The hostel is full of young party animals, they seem somewhat boring to me. Perhaps I'm projecting my own boredom with lack of accomplishment? Plus, you can see the junkies in the streets, not a completely pretty sight, and the amount of warnings about pickpockets and the level of police presence is not reassuring, although the alleys are obviously safer than Mission SF or Oakland under the freeway. Of course, I'm not going to test that assertion...
I guess my sort of party has more costumes, more talking, less loud music and flashing lights. Sign of age? Or of historic interest?
....
It strikes me (again) that I am halfway through my career job years (theoretically) (being 43, starting at 21, retiring at 65) and I've been by some metrics successful, but never really satisfied. One point of the history conference this weekend (Society for the History of Technology, S.H.O.T.) is to judge the people involved and find how I feel about them. Another is to check and get a feel for the related job market. Another is just for the fun of the presentations; this is cool stuff!
What do I want to be doing when I'm 65? What do I want to have done? Whatever it is, now is the time to aim in that direction, and use my skills to get there, or develop the skills.
I'd like to be teaching aikido, and practicing it. As part of that, I'd like to be in shape, even if older. (Same goal said many times.)
I'd like to be involved in a church/community of faith.
I'd like to keep studying history and doing strange fun things.
I'd like to be dancing.
I'd like to marry, and raise a family.
....
Perhaps I should diet, then become a dance instructor on a cruise. Or sell the house, move to Europe, and get a PhD in the History of Science/Technology. (Most seem to be in the United States.) Could I learn a foreign language quickly enough? Could I really separate myself that far from friends and family and be happy? I've been in the Santa Clara valley since 1971, and have friends dating back from that time that I'm still in contact with. On the other hand, travel really does appeal. Silicon Valley seems to be a Minotaur's lair to me; a few find the gold, but most are ground down by the bull.
These are just thoughts thrown out for a little consideration; they've been rattling around in the head for a while.
But outside the SCA, I never really was. Wish Thorfinn or Deena were here so I could follow them though! Walked by the Oldchurch as I'm close to it (hostel The Globe is in the Red Light district) and walked past a kindergarden, where all the parents were wheeling up on their bicycles to drop off the children. On either side, a red light house, in operation at 9:30 AM on a Wednesday morning, women in the windows.
The church is interesting; it is the oldest stone building in Amsterdam, and you can see all the additions made through the years. Got a picture or two.
Stopped at a local's cafe, heard conversations in 4 identifiable languages, drank a cup of coffee for a decent price (1.1 euro as opposed to 3 in Paris downtown) and read the guide. SItting outside looking over the canal, and all the tall narrow houses with beams at the top jutting out. Hearing dutch, which includes the phrases "Yep" and "Yup" but not "Yasureyabetcha" and then more soft consonants than I've ever heard.
Wandering to place myself in the city now; off to the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum, look like not too bad a walk.
...
The hostel is full of young party animals, they seem somewhat boring to me. Perhaps I'm projecting my own boredom with lack of accomplishment? Plus, you can see the junkies in the streets, not a completely pretty sight, and the amount of warnings about pickpockets and the level of police presence is not reassuring, although the alleys are obviously safer than Mission SF or Oakland under the freeway. Of course, I'm not going to test that assertion...
I guess my sort of party has more costumes, more talking, less loud music and flashing lights. Sign of age? Or of historic interest?
....
It strikes me (again) that I am halfway through my career job years (theoretically) (being 43, starting at 21, retiring at 65) and I've been by some metrics successful, but never really satisfied. One point of the history conference this weekend (Society for the History of Technology, S.H.O.T.) is to judge the people involved and find how I feel about them. Another is to check and get a feel for the related job market. Another is just for the fun of the presentations; this is cool stuff!
What do I want to be doing when I'm 65? What do I want to have done? Whatever it is, now is the time to aim in that direction, and use my skills to get there, or develop the skills.
I'd like to be teaching aikido, and practicing it. As part of that, I'd like to be in shape, even if older. (Same goal said many times.)
I'd like to be involved in a church/community of faith.
I'd like to keep studying history and doing strange fun things.
I'd like to be dancing.
I'd like to marry, and raise a family.
....
Perhaps I should diet, then become a dance instructor on a cruise. Or sell the house, move to Europe, and get a PhD in the History of Science/Technology. (Most seem to be in the United States.) Could I learn a foreign language quickly enough? Could I really separate myself that far from friends and family and be happy? I've been in the Santa Clara valley since 1971, and have friends dating back from that time that I'm still in contact with. On the other hand, travel really does appeal. Silicon Valley seems to be a Minotaur's lair to me; a few find the gold, but most are ground down by the bull.
These are just thoughts thrown out for a little consideration; they've been rattling around in the head for a while.
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no subject
Date: 2004-10-06 04:40 am (UTC)It is amusing that Amsterdam locals have no problems with the Red Light district, crocking, or drugs. They appears to be a small taboo about hiding 'vice' and thus making it exciting. They prefer people see the consequences.
More than that. What is crocking?
Date: 2004-10-06 08:50 am (UTC)Anyway, I'm here until next tuesday, or until I run out of desire to be here, but will be in the conference starting tomorrow. Drop us a joint email, if you please.
Re: More than that. What is crocking?
Date: 2004-10-06 09:55 am (UTC)If you find a building that no one has lived in for a year, and you move in, you have some legal rights to stay indefinitely. You do not receive ownership, merely occupancy. Before the capitalist in you belows, it turns out to create efficient use of space.
Many of the cultural and artistic enclaves of Amsterdam are rent-free squats. The RoboDock would not exist without it. As long as you are there this winter, you could take a class in practical squatting. The movement has spread to parts of Germany (like the KGB artists). The cultural benefits are significant.
It's a wonderful world.
no subject
Date: 2004-10-06 07:08 am (UTC)Your list of where you'd like to be is interesting. I've been wrestling with the success/satisfaction issue a lot, although I've come to a relatively peaceful place (for now). Moving to Europe is a little hard, but easier than it seems on the surface - I recommend it, if only as a head-clearing, prioritizing, awareness-building kind of project. Leastwise, that's how it worked for me.
no subject
Date: 2004-10-06 07:26 am (UTC)Location isn't an exact problem
Date: 2004-10-06 08:51 am (UTC)Re: Location isn't an exact problem
Date: 2004-10-06 09:48 am (UTC)BTW: Many universities in Europe have programs of study in English. Z was just telling me about 2 year psychology program at the university in Munich (of course, we were talking about my interests at the time, and no; if I went to Germany, I would not have to take coursework in English). If you like the Netherlands, I would not be surprised if universities offered courswork in English as well. And hey, there's always the UK and Ireland (Imagine it. You could visit the Book of Kells every day if you studied in Dublin). At any rate, these some thoughts.
no subject
Date: 2004-10-06 02:33 pm (UTC)Now moving, changing locations is also a patern interupt. It means you get to make new choices. Sometimes not a bad thing.
So what are you willing to do to get your dreams.