I’m thinking about this year.
2022 hasn’t been particularly kind, to summarize things. Yeah, I know you’re supposed to be grateful, supportive and appreciative. I try, and even encourage others to do the same. It’s amazing, you can always find some brightness, even in the darkness of our short days. |
Covid-19
The best thing is, I do have measurable recovery. What a delight that is. Also, I know scientists and doctors are working every day to help long-haulers.
My shots are up to date
Imagine if you actually did get the flu? This shot will reduce the misery of the illness, they say. Over and over. After a while, you start to believe it. Even feel a bit smug about it. You’ve done your share of keeping yourself out of the hospital. Then you hear if you’d just waited a few days you could have received the trivalent vaccine, with its much better protection. At least, that’s what they’re saying!
Ferry fury
At times like that, it’s hard to be cheerful, especially when you have children in the car for hours. Or even a dog that needs to relieve itself on the dry grass at the edge of the ferry traffic.
You have to admire the pooches though. Nothing stops them when they want to ’go’. You’re in charge of the cleanup detail. And guess what, the restrooms are off-limits to those hundreds of would-be passengers in the line-up.
That’s because they’re ‘improving’ one of the docks. The restrooms are closed!
So drink your coffee or anything else at your peril. The effects are drastic unless you’ve also spent time developing the muscles you need to hold blow up bladder capacity. It’s uncomfortable.
Climate change
Meantime, the air b&b’s continue to rise in numbers. Think about it, as regards this water shortage situation. Every day, or couple of days there’s need to use huge quantities of our precious resource to launder bed linen, etc. We do have a governing body here, but it seems installing water meters, so folks actually pay for what they use, is beyond their ability to process or even act upon.
So island life is not always the magical, laid-back experience that you’d like. Perfection is hard to achieve. Sometimes you need more patience than you could ever have visualized years ago when you decided to succumb to the incredible beauty of our area, and live here.
Every now and again though, it’s important to run a check up on things in your local community. Contrast the things that are wonderful with the acceptable. Stare squarely into the face of bureaucracy, and decide what you, as part of the community, can do to make your share of it better.
Bee balm
This year I have a few inches of wood chips over cardboard around all the plants to conserve water. It has worked very well. These have not received any water for months.