[lit-ideas] Re: Obligations
- From: david ritchie <profdritchie@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2015 20:48:06 -0800
On Dec 24, 2015, at 8:10 PM, Lawrence Helm <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
John, Sherrie, Ed, Ursula, et al
Thanks.
I'm living now as a hermit, spending my time much as I did today -- as in the
last 41 photos of https://lawrencehelm.smugmug.com/RiverPhotography/Dec-2015/
<https://lawrencehelm.smugmug.com/RiverPhotography/Dec-2015/>
I have been giving some thought recently to how much company is good.
Generally in married life company comes like storms on the ocean; from time to
time there’s a buffet. I feel that what the computer geeks call the default
position of many introverted men is what Garrison Keillor describes as the
Norwegian Bachelor Farmer. What I like about Garrison Keillor is he doesn’t
dismiss this as a way of living. If it’s right enough for old lions, why not
men?
There are alternatives. I heard an annoying piece recently on a cooking show.
Somehow a psychologist, or similar, had made his way on, and he described all
people becoming happier by “being connected” and volunteering. Let the record
show that like you, I have volunteered. And as Socrates no doubt pointed out,
like work or tennis or chocolate, volunteering is not guaranteed to make anyone
happy.
Which path would I choose if I were suddenly alone? I have no idea.
May the one that you take, prove good.
Merry everything to all,
David Ritchie,
Portland Oregon
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