I will include guidelines with each post ... the premise for this exercise. Once we are further along in the 291 questions, we might forget the points in answering. This is especially important for me when I answer and doesn't fit comfortably in my belief system (like question #003.) Thank you to those who choose to join me in answering a question (which I sincerely hope you do.)
- The questions are about personal "values and beliefs."
- There are no right or wrong answers ... "only honest or dishonest ones."
- "Accept that conditions are as the questions describe. Suspend your disbelief if you can."
- "Pay attention to which ones you're drawn to and which you shy away from. ... a question you want to avoid might be the very one you should focus on."
Question 004
#004
Ignoring all financial considerations, would you rather
spend the next 5 years confined to an urban mecca like New York City,
or
a beautiful, isolated town on the California coast?
Ahhhh! Finally. A simple question for me.
No equivocation. No expanded explanations in an effort to make my final answer more acceptable - in my eyes, at least. If you are confused by what I am saying ... check out the previous posting when I attempted to answer question #003. (Gosh, that was a hard one but it did spark a few good comments. Thank you to those who responded.)
No equivocation. No expanded explanations in an effort to make my final answer more acceptable - in my eyes, at least. If you are confused by what I am saying ... check out the previous posting when I attempted to answer question #003. (Gosh, that was a hard one but it did spark a few good comments. Thank you to those who responded.)
So here is my answer to #004.
I choose, hands down, "a beautiful, isolated town on the California coast." I love the peace and quiet of town life - "beautiful" town would be an added benefit. And "on the coast" would make it heaven for me. I don't get much "coast" time now. And "isolation" is a HUGE plus for me. I often prefer my own company to that of others. No negatives. Easy-peasy. End of discussion.
(little voice rising to the surface)
But I am 70 now. What about health care, what about access to a good quality hospital, what about the ability to seek out social stimulation when I want it, what about .... what about .... what about .... Isn't the word "isolated" the limiting factor? I could be within a few years of not driving. Then what? How much public transportation does this "isolated town" have? I bet not much. And my family and friends ... where are they? I live in Maryland now. They live in Maryland now. The question only offered California, not isolated small towns like in California. Yikes!!! What about my grand dogs - how would I see them??? You can't scratch a Skype dog image behind their ears!
Shouldn't I provide a more responsible grown up answer that shows I recognize my current life needs and limitations?
Crap! This was supposed to be an easy answer.
Think, think, think.
Ok - this still is my answer. It is only for 5 years. I would only be 75 at the end of that time - a 'spring chicken' really.' :-) My children could visit me - drive across the country with their dogs!! Monthly!!! Ok, maybe not monthly - quarterly would do. They would do that if they REALLY loved me. And all those "what abouts" are important - can be very important at times. But when I try to picture myself living in an "urban mecca like New York City" ... No. Never. I am not a city girl in the slightest. I wouldn't live another 5 years even with quality health care if I had to live in any big city! I would HATE it.
My decision for "beautiful, isolated town on the California coast" still stands!
*Sigh*
Aren't there ANY easy questions in this book???
Aren't there ANY easy questions in this book???
Glad I don't have to really make this choice!
Just for the record ... I have peaked ahead at question #005. It looks like an easy answer! Famous last words. :-)
If I can silence that (little voice rising to the surface) with a hammer, (jump up and down on it a few hundred times) ... (shoot it from head to foot with a machine gun and bury 1000 feet down) ... (cover it with gasoline and then light a match) ... THEN it might be easy.
Which would be your favorite place to spend the next 5 years.
I would really like to know.
5 comments:
A beautiful, isolated town for me, and it doesn't even have to be on the coast. I live such a quiet life. I'm not a nightlife sort of gal, so I wouldn't miss out on the city's evening offerings. I enjoy long walks with the dog on dirt roads. I stop and smell the magnolias and mimosas. DH joins me sometimes, and we rescue turtles that have strayed into the road, laugh at the expressions of the cows we pass, and wave to the neighbors sitting on their porch. DH particularly enjoys stargazing, and you can't do that in a city because of the light pollution. Hands down,a beautiful, isolated town for us!
Small, isolated town for me, too. Even better if I could live outside of town . A city can be fun to visit but there is no peace, my #1 consideration in choosing where to live.
This comment is from my friend Karen - Happy One! Although you may not know her, she was the one who go me blogging years and years ago. She also walk almost every single day 5-6 miles - an important thing to know when you read her comment.
From Happy One:
Though I wouldn't want to live in California given these two choices I would pick the isolated coastal town.
I would not want to live in the city. People would really worry about me walking in Central Park in the early morning. : )
Karen - not sure what happened. I tried to publish the comment but it said it "didn't exist." Crazy! And YES, I would worry if you walked in Central Park. Hahaha.
Definitely easy-peasy for me – the little coast town sounds like paradise compared to an "urban mecca"! Now I'll go back to the last post....
What a fun exercise. I vote hands down for the isolated California beach, preferably southern enough to avoid cold weather in the winter. Is that asking for too much? Lois
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