Silver City, New Mexico

Whew! It went down to 5 degrees F last night. Supposedly. It was going to be 14 degrees when I walked to the Museum today. It sure did not feel like fourteen degrees. I was well prepared though, dressed as warmly as I have ever been since I moved here.

I was expecting no visitors on this cold day, but we have had four. One couple came from central Idaho, where they are experiencing an onslaught of Californians, refugees from wildfires and, I am guessing, high prices.

I predict there will be all kinds of refugees within our country in the next few years: from floods, fires, and draconian abortion laws. I heard that Trump issued 100 executive orders yesterday (Inauguration Day!) What a lot of homework for those of us who feel we should at least try to keep up with what is going on in the country!

I know people who are going to ignore Trump as much as possible. I know people who are happy that their party is in power. I tried to point out that he will be the one with the power - not them. We will see how they feel in four years.

Interesting might be the word to describe what is coming. I only hope what we experience will not be too interesting.

Silver City, New Mexico

A real cold spell has finally visited Silver City, but not as bad as some of the night forecasts in Austin and Denver, which are facing some night temperatures below zero - in the case of Denver, in the teens below zero!

Here it is actually supposed to go up to fifty degrees today. But enough about the weather!

I have seen and read about some retirement communities which are just too controlled and tame for my taste. Silver City is not planned in that kind of way - at least not the part I live in. My neighborhood is pretty random. There are mostly older people nearby, but more people seem to be moving in.

Silver City is fortunate to have many new arrivals who, like me, enjoy the give and take of conversations in person. The tendency of many people to live solely through their phones, ignoring the real live human beings around them, has had me a little worried.

Turns out I am not alone! There is a cover article in the latest Atlantic Monthly about the very real tendency of more people to live solitary lives. The article states that for many people this is their preferred state of being, they think. It seems that they are wrong, though, according to the author of the article.

As for me, I handle solitude well. I enjoy reading and playing word games (yes, online!) as well as with real people, but a game with a literal person or two is way preferable to virtual games. Since I moved here three and 1/2 years ago I am volunteering more, playing Scrabble and Anagrams with real people. I was happy enough not socializing as much, but I am much happier now.

Just the experience of one person - me.

The Atlantic gave me another gift lately, if I remember correctly as to the source. Turns out I am not old - I am experiencing advanced adulthood.

I love it.

Silver City, New Mexico

It takes a lot of courage for many of us to face the new year this year. Ugh! What is going to happen? Will we be facing another pandemic without public support for new vaccines? Will the horrible die-off of species escalate with little or no concern from/by the Federal Government? Will there BE a federal government?

Time will tell, as it has told me altogether too much sometimes in my 77 1/2 years of life.

Right now it is 65 degrees in the middle of winter, but I still need the heat on part of the day. What is that all about? Radiant cold from the land around? Cold settled in my bones? Hypersensitivity? Dunno.

It sure is nice, though, to be able to play Anagrams (otherwise known as Plunder) on my friends porch. I cannot help but hope there will be a fifty-degree day every week or so all winter, in spite of the global warming crisis which cannot be denied.

I am determined to see the silver lining whenever possible in these exceedingly uncertain times.

Oh, and Happy New Year! Yesterday I walked up to the highest point in town on Boston Hill and took pictures in every direction. It was a three hour walk, including one chat, but not really a difficult one. I hope to do it more often this year than last.

If I were not so slow it might have taken a third of that time. Try it or a comparable walking goal - and have a wonderful time!