1450's Year in Review Part 1

2010 is starting to come to a close, in review of the year’s activity, it sometimes seems like it went far to fast and we didn’t do as much as we would have liked. In part that is true – we didn’t get out and do those enjoyable things as much as we would like. Both Bridgett and I have been dealing with difficult work situations this year that have been very time and energy consuming. Bridgett is moving into a new chapter in her life – her company sold to a larger conglomerate on the 23rd of December. I am still stuck in the same situation – but I think it will improve in the next couple of months.

While getting an update on my tattoo – the tattooist explained that he had a conversation with a friend that explained why life seems to move faster the older one gets. When we are younger, our daily lives are filled with new things constantly. However, as we get older we fall into routines that start to interfere with the “newness” we could be experiencing. In short – we drive the same route, we have the same meals, we see the same people, and get far too comfortable in our daily habits. Consequently life moves faster because nothing in our routines really excites us.

Imagination and creativity suffer as do our stress levels because we don’t have the same level of excitement for life and new experiences. When we do get the opportunity to experience something new – it moves like lightning and ends far to quickly.

What to do? Well – I suppose attempting to live life more randomly and force a change from the usual habits and actually follow-through with plans for adventure and excitement. Of course – when you’re a parent – keeping food on the table and a roof overhead are still important. Keeping a better balance is the tricky part.

For 2010 – we did a few things that fit the bill (not as much as we would like) – In January we took the trailer up to Astoria and Fort Stevens to go Geocaching and check out the old bunkers from the abandoned artillery base that protected the mouth of the Columbia River. It was a great trip, albeit a bit rainy (it was January in the Pacific Northwest after all). In March, Morgan and I did a couple of intensive photo trips around the coast. I switched camera systems later that month and really enjoy the new sharpness to digital images that I didn’t have before.

In April we did some more Geocaching and had a very nice ATV/camping trip at Winchester Bay. The weather was fantastic for the third year in a row for our annual group riding trip.

Enough for now – I’ll continue our “year in review” in a couple of days. Stay tuned!