Happiness Tree

Does Immortality Actually Exist in Nature?

What might this portend for the future of Humanity. Could we, at the very least learn how to dramatically extend our lives by studying the Hydra? What gives them the ability apparently avoid aging indefinitely?

Listen to this NPR Podcast to hear Martinez describe how he came to discover this enigmatic creature and why he abruptly ended the almost decade long experiment. 

Will someone one day pick up the ball and dive deeper into this mystery? Should they? What if Humanity had the technology to extend life indefinitely? Would it only be available to the rich and powerful? Would over-population, diminishing resources, adequate space and pollution make us long for the days when humans had a shelf life? 

Let us know what you think.

 

The Joy of Birds

Early mornings are like an avian highway out here in East San Diego County. We are lucky to be at the intersection of two major diverse bird populations: Those that inhabit the coastal environs to the West and others that make their home in the mountains and deserts to the East.

Hummingbirds are the first morning visitors. They are the smallest and feistiest of all birds. Like opposing magnets, they cannot stand to be in proximity to one another without battling for territory. And that territory includes our very popular bird bath and fountain, which is within view of our kitchen and reading room. They crave not only water to drink, but like also a morning dip. Yet due to their diminutive stature, Hummingbirds cannot afford to immerse themselves in the pool. Instead, they hover over the fountain and hang their body in the stream, dipping periodically to drag their lower extremities over the surface.

Several times, out of a desire to experience a different sound or appearance, I have changed the way the water flows in the fountain. And each time, for a few days after, they struggle to complete their morning ritual. But soon, they learn and find new ways to accomplish the task. They clearly possess the ability to adapt and innovate. 

Fountain antics continue as the sun rises. Drops of gold begin falling in and around the water. as the gold finch and the yellow rumped warbler make their morning appearance. They too like to start the day with a fresh dip in the pool.

On most mornings, you'll find me sitting in the back yard with my coffee, only feet from the fountain observing them. For a moment they are taken aback by my presence, then quickly they surmise I'm probably not a threat and begin frolicking in the water. Though I couldn't catch them even if I wanted to, they remain tentative, frequently glancing in my direction as they bathe. This is the closest to trust as I can ever hope to achieve with these timid creatures.

The Towhee is also a frequent visitor and he, or she, usually comes with a friend or mate. They are the clowns that illicit my first laugh of the day. They're always in a hurry, as if they have a long list of yards to visit and find themselves far behind schedule. They hop and dance, run and flutter just above the ground. Sometimes going aloft for a few feet, then skidding back to the ground, with their little legs extended in braking mode. 

 

Hawks like the Red Shouldered and the Cooper's Hawk also drop in, but much less often. They can usually be seen soaring above the yard during migration or mating times, or when they have young to feed. Their gorgeous plumages and piercing eyes are mesmerizing, made all more supernatural when considering the stealth by which they evade my gaze until just before an attack. They are experts at their craft. I have seen them catch small birds in mid-air, clasping their talons between an unlucky sparrow's wings and body, carrying them off with a silent, aerodynamic glide. I once awoke to one perched on a hay bale on my back slope, gorging himself on what I presumed was our one of our favorite avian residents. My suspicions were confirmed when our mockingbird's mellifluous melody was suddenly absent and remained so for the duration of that Spring. 

 

But by far, my most evocative memory is that of a Roadrunner that appeared out of nowhere one Summer afternoon. He landed on a low wall just outside my window and proceeded to immediately run toward an unsuspecting lizard distracted while bathing in the warm sunlight. The poor reptile didn't have a chance. Before another second had passed, the predator had him in his beak. He began flailing the lizard wildly, up and down, using his neck as a sort of whip to increase the speed. He slammed the helpless victim onto the pavement several times until the life was literally thrashed out of him. Then, with one gulp, down the gullet he went. Lucky for me, the Roadrunner stayed for a time, exploring my patio, thereby allowing me amply opportunity to snap some surreptitious pictures. 

Other perodic visitors include the Black Phoebe, who perches nervously on a top a thin branch, swaying in the wind as he anticipates his next plunge, which usually results in the catching of a tasty insect. Sparrows, Finches, Bluebirds. Orioles, Ravens and the beautiful and shy desert dweller, Phainopepla, (featured). His call sounds like someone whistling to get your attention. On more than one occasion, I've reflexively turned around expecting to discover an unexpected guest standing at my door, only to realize I was once again duped by this dark and secretive little visitor.

---

---

I've often speculated what it is about birds that makes them so universally loved. I've settled on several unique characteristics that endear them to us such that they have woven their presence into our art, literature and folk tales from the beginning of recorded history.

 - They have the ability to appear and disappear without notice. The magic of flight allows them to easily breach natural and man-made barriers that deter or repel other creatures. As such, pagan communities in ancient days began relating their sudden presence to the foretelling of significant events in the lives of those that witnessed their arrival.

For an example: In India, the incessant cawing of a crow might portend a visitor. Upon receiving this foresight, a family would prepare extra food in anticipation of welcoming their guest. In early Hebrew writings, the Tree of Life bares all the souls that have ever or will ever exist and only the Sparrow can see the souls descending in the the flesh of Humanity. It is that joyous event that causes the sparrow to sing. But one day-as the myth details-the Tree of Life will have produced its last soul, after which birds will cease their song. This was described to be one of the 7 ominous signs of an impending Apocalypse. 

Their appearance and disappearance corresponds with the changing of the seasons. Even in the midst of all our technology, we can still see ancient patterns playing out around us all the time. Spring brings new growth, flowers, pollination by birds, bees and butterflies. Summer hastens the ripening of fruit, which is subsequently gathered in preparation for fall wines, jams and pies. Fall and Winter too have their unique character, which may be more or less apparent, depending on the climate where you live. Birds respond to these seasonal signals, often migrating thousands of miles to warmer or colder climes in search of food and or optimal breeding habitat.

I can see and hear these patterns from my kitchen window. The appearance and the song of the White Crowned Sparrow signals the return of Fall. Hawks also appear in rare flocks overhead in response to Autumnal urges. The Bluebird and Oriole return for Summer nesting habitat. Their colorful plumage, a stark counterpoint to the reds and greens so prevalent in a summer garden. 

The songbird lays down an audible tapestry which help to define a sense of place. One of my favorite activities when traveling is to listen for and attempt to identify the birds I find there. If their songs are substantially different from those I hear at home, I know I'll most likely be adding a new bird to my life list. I don't actually have a written account of all the birds I've seen over the years, but I make a mental note of the locale, the color, the shape and song of each new species. I find this to be a great way to recall my visceral experience of a place, adding an additional layer of complexity to its flavor. Much like experiencing a fine wine with all of it commensurate and unique nuances. 

Bird Watcher or Nature Lover? Is there a difference?

Casual observers passing by a group of bird watchers (or birders, as they are often derisively called), may assume they are a group of nerds that have chosen to focus their propensity for detail and minutia on the poor birds, who just want to be left alone to behave as Nature intended. And there may be a grain of truth to this characterization. But there is much more that can be gleaned by noticing the birds that are almost always in your midst, regardless of where you live: They are the epitome and the expression of wildness in your own backyard; the conduits through which you can strengthen your connection to unseen forces that keep our planet and indeed all of creation running like a Swiss watch. The tides, cycles of weather, seasonal shifts, the blooming and recycling of plants, indeed the beating of your own heart are not unlike the observable patterns of birds, dancing on the rhythms of Nature, bringing beauty, serenity and as sense of wonder to our often busy and challenging lives. 

-Shane Eric Mathias

Home Fires Burning - The Razing and Recovery of the Iconic North Bay Region

Having just visited this especially beautiful pocket of Northern California, Napa and Sonoma Counties, its bucolic majesty was still fresh in my mind when I heard the first murmurings of a fire in the area. Wildfires are a fact of life in these semi-arid regions of the State, whose meadows and hillsides often grow emerald green with winter rain and then dry out to a tawny brown soon after Spring has bid her farewell. It is just this characteristic velvety brown landscape that provides one important component for a fire to take hold

The local fire stations and volunteer departments are used to these flair ups. And when one happens, it barely makes the local papers or registers a mention on the evening news. The rapid response of these fire fighters almost always achieves the upper hand before homes, livestock or other precious resources are ever threatened.

But on the rare occasions that there is that perfect storm and elemental forces conspire to create a conflagration of horrific proportions, there is little anyone can do but run for their lives. By the time dispatchers sent the first team to knock down the flames that appeared overnight, it was already too late. Building quietly somewhere in a dark canyon and fueled by what residents call “The Diablo Winds” once fire had made it to the first ridge, in the wee hours of the morning, it had become a seething, monster, determined to leave only stone and metal in its wake.

It moved so fast, that those in its path barely had time to don a robe, gather the children or elderly parents and beat a hasty retreat through a gauntlet of towering flames. Left behind were all the seemingly indispensable minutia that make up a home: Musical instruments, photo albums, heirlooms from generations past and in so many cases, a sanctuary built through loving plans and hands to safely ride out the golden years.

So many chose this beautiful area for retirement. With countless micro-farms, wineries and specialty restaurants dotting the valleys, foothills and towns, living in the Napa / Sonoma area has always represented a captivating blend of metropolitan and rural amenities. The comfortable pace and lifestyle, friendly atmosphere and proximity to medical centers, universities and the economic powerhouses that are San Francisco and Silicon Valley, gave this region the moniker “God’s country”. What I always interpreted to mean, “where God would live, were he (or she), were to ever be in the market”.

Though I now live in Southern California, ironically, what many consider the epicenter of wild infernos, for me, the devastation to the North Bay has left an emotional scar. You see, I once lived there. You might say, I grew up there. Having moved from Los Angeles, in my early twenties, to seek a closer and deeper connection to Nature, I found the environs in which I wished I had spent my childhood. And over the ensuing decades, I came to know it intimately… better than most.

I brought with me that Southern California affinity for the automobile. And with my trusty steed, I would spend weekends on long excursions, in search of new views, lakes, nurseries, wineries, towns or experiences yet to be discovered. One one such trip, I came across an exotic zoo, tucked away in the uniquely beautiful valley that ascends from the windy Mark West Springs Rd. This road wends its way from Eastern Santa Rosa to Calistoga, passing wineries, farms, aging barns, horse pastures, but mostly, some of the most scenic countryside to be found anywhere. At the intersection of Franz Valley School Rd, can be found Safari West. And on this particular day, while joyriding down the road, I glimpsed a giraffe peeking out over a fence. Now, I have seen many odd things in the North Bay: Creative farmers have experimented with raising emu, lamas, long horned cattle and even bison on these productive pastures. But giraffe?

I made a u-turn and indeed, found a giraffe eager to engage with me. Especially if I tempted her with a clump of fresh grass. Soon, her calf appeared. Her head barely topped the fence, but her eyes seemed to capture all that is mysterious and beautiful in Nature with one glance. I was hooked! And in several weeks, I was working there as a docent. The experiences I had and the memories I made during that incredible summer I will reserve for another day. But suffice it to say, I was more familiar than most with that road, having traveled it many times on my way to and from that little preserve in the hills, North East of Santa Rosa.

It is the same road that I recently took my wife to visit for the first time, as I introduced to her the small part of the universe where I grew into manhood and where I left a piece of my heart. She marveled at the countless doglegs and switchbacks that make this highway so fun to drive. With my trusty 4Runner, I took them as fast as I safely could, giving us both the visceral sensation of centrifugal force as we leaned this way and that, descending ever deeper into the canyon. We imagined coming back some day soon in a rented convertible sports car, dropping the top and feeling the fresh wind in our hair as we inhaled the aroma of oak and pine.

But alas, it is that same oak and pine forest that has now been mostly consumed by the fire. For us, the memory is bittersweet. We feel lucky to have seen it just weeks before it burned, but now we gasp at the thought that it might remain only an image in our minds rather than a place we can actually revisit.

What Is Home

This brings me to the concept I alluded to in the title of this article: Home. What is home anyway? This week and in the weeks and months ahead, I and many thousands will need to wrestle with that question. For those who now live and work in this area and who were recently evacuated to shelters, anxiously awaiting word about their cherished property and belongings, life may be forever changed. The economic realities of the area make it such that it serves as a bedroom community for commuters working in and around San Francisco. By the thousands, each weekday, they wend their way south along the 101, like a red snake in the dawn light, to jobs that are not available above the Sonoma County line. For those who have now lost that home, relocation North or South will probably not be an option. The ensuing calculation will go something like this: Move farther North, to Windsor and Healdsburg, where the commute becomes an impossible barrier? Or, move South, into Marin County, where rents and home prices are beyond the means of all but the most well off? The conundrum has no easy answer. And for those who were uninsured or for whom insurance will not sufficiently compensate their loss, the road back to equilibrium will be long indeed. They may need to move completely out of the area and then struggle to find a new definition of “Home”, one that will be incomplete at best.

For me, it is less well defined. Napa and Sonoma county, or what is variously called “The North Bay”, or "Wine Country", was a kind of “Home” I returned to in my mind countless times over the preceding decades. While the intrepid residents of this area will no doubt find the strength and vision to rebuild, it will be many decades, (if ever), before the myriad forests, vineyards, wineries and little farms reestablish and bring back the relaxed and timeless character that I recall. It will take a while to resolve the tension between this image in my mind and what may now be the reality. It may indeed be necessary to return and create new memories there, as the land and the people that love it evolve and heal from their ordeal.

Let Us Learn from Others' Misfortune

For the rest of us, let this be a cautionary tale. Our planet and our climate is changing. Whether you believe that or not does not alter the fact. Whether climate change was responsible for this particular tragedy, no one can be sure. One thing we do know however, is that California now has a year-round fire season. There is no part of this state, or frankly our country that is immune to the prospect of a catastrophic inferno. We must not ignore this fact and change our behavior to respond to this new reality.

1. Prepare your home to resist fire's assault. Remove dry or dying vegetation from on and around your property. If an adjoining home is poorly maintained, try to work with the owner to create a mutually beneficial fire-resistant landscape. Cut down trees or shrubs close to the house, that might catch fire and drop embers on roofs or in clogged rain gutters. Also, keep those gutters cleaned.

2. If you have a large property, irrigate the areas close to the home. On that land farther from the house, for which irrigation would be impractical or too expensive, keep weeds mowed, dead trees removed, and fire breaks, such as roads and dry creek beds well managed.

3. Prepare a suitcase with essentials: Clothing, copies of important documents, cash, car keys, water, etc. When and if you have to leave in minutes, there will be no time to gather these things.

4. Have an evacuation plan in place. That may involve rope ladders to escape multi storied units, easy access to well-maintained vehicles, and at least 2 unimpeded avenues of escape.

5. Finally, look around your home. Make sure you have working hoses attached to every spigot. In the event embers are dropping on your roof from some distance away, you may be able to save your property just by dousing those sparks.

That is what Peter Lang did, the owner of Safari West. Somehow, due to his vigilance, ingenuity and sheer determination, he kept his prize Safari West from burning. In fact, this week, a new baby giraffe was born. They called her "Tubbs" after the most massively destructive fire that raged through the area.

If he can do that with his 400+ acres, then the rest of us might have a fighting chance to save our home a well, if and when the unthinkable happens...

...Which is now much less difficult to imagine.

 Mark Reynolds now lives in San Diego, CA with his wife, Tatyana

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related articles

This map shows the devastating impact of fires ravaging parts of California's wine country

The fire ravaging parts of California wine country threatens the region's $1 billion agriculture industry

Dangerous Weather Further Legitimizes Climate Change Scenario - What Will We Do?

Climate change is a cunning beast, laying low, giving us pause to again become complacent or dust off our denial. Then it happens, Texas suffers its 3rd Hurricane in a decade, the 5th since 2000 and by all estimates, Harvey, being the worst, characterized as a 1 in 1000 year event.

Now, as I write, another hurricane, "Irma" is bearing down on the Florida coast. Poised to hit the Caribbean islands first, with possible catastrophic damage occurring to Florida by Saturday - As Houston just begins to dry out and assess the damage and the Federal Government struggles to find the resources to begin rebuilding that city and helping its residents. Soon Florida may need the same assistance, putting a tremendous strain on our already unstable economy.

Today, I heard that London, England has been protected by a series of massive walls, called the Thames Embankment, to keep the River from inundating the city, as it did in 1928. They also realize, that by 2050 or so, it will need to be amended to adjust for the rising waters caused by climate change. How is it that we as individuals can deny a reality which compels entire cities and nations to spend billions.  

Many other metropolitan areas are bracing or preparing for what they deem to be an inevitable threat that will devastate its coastal communities unless something is done. Even as our President chooses to deny the existence of wildly accepted science painting a doomsday scenario unless we all act to address the underlying causes of climate change.

It is daunting I know. The challenge is so massive it almost boggles the mind. But so was WWll and Polio and so many other cataclysms that threatened to challenge humanity's future. And yet, with collective action and the help of our government, we met and defeated these adversaries. Why is it we feel so apathetic in the face of this threat?

I think I have an answer and it strikes at the heart of what we as a nation, as a culture, have become ... Lazy.

And I point not the finger only to others, but also to myself. I love the internal combustion engine in my car. Do I want to replace it with an electric vehicle that gets me where I'm going, for sure, but without the excitement of 6 cylinders exploding an air / fuel mixture inside a hermitically sealed chamber and sending the resulting energy to the back wheels via a series of gears turning inside a marvelous mechanism called a transmission? Electrons flowing down a wire and turning an electro-magnetic motor bores the heck out of me.

Would it in fact make some small contribution toward addressing our looming crisis, by keeping just a little carbon out of the air? Perhaps. It's complicated. Because the electricity I would use to charge that vehicle's batteries would have to be generated somehow. Depending on where you live, that electrical generation may be driven by solar panels, or also natural gas or even coal. Granted, when power is centrally generated and sent out via an infrastructure like an electrical grid, it is more efficient and less polluting then having that equivalent energy produced by an internal combustion engine burning gas. But is that enough to really make a difference? Maybe, if the shift was on a large enough scale. 

Yet, consumers are tepid on electric vehicles. They accounted for barely 2% of auto sales in the last year that was analyzed. And as a result, the essential vehicle charging stations are not being built to support and serve that small demographic. And when they are put in, the ugly interference of capital interests rears its ugly head yet again: Different electric car manufacturers and different charging station interests are devising proprietary equipment to serve primarily "their" customers. So if you drive up in a Nissan Leaf for an example, you may not be able to charge from a station that was built for a Tesla or a Prius. This corporate-centered mentality will leave many EV owners stranded and they know it. So, what seemed like a good, socially progressive idea is once again corrupted by greed.

So what about Solar Panels; Composting your waste; Growing a garden to become less reliant on wasteful industrial farming; Planning your week to make fewer trips, or walking instead of driving, whenever possible; Turning off lights that aren't needed, Wearing warmer clothes rather than heating the house to a toasty 80 degrees. 

Would these things make a difference? I'm not sure. And that is what sets this crisis apart from the others I mentioned: Nazis are an enemy you can see. Polio was clearly contagious and therefore, biological. But climate change is far more complicated and the truth is, we are all culpable in some way, shape or form, by continuing to remain in denial or presuming there is nothing we can do or worse: Knowing we can do something and still choosing not to.

If you're with me on this, then consider what I have done. I decided to inform myself about the problem. I purchased Al Gore's new book "An Inconvenient Sequel, Truth to Power".

It the book, he clearly describes the what Climate Change is and what's behind it. But rather than being a doom and gloom story, the information offers a ray of hope. That hope arises from the fact that what we have been doing seems to be having a positive effect: The concentration of heat-trappng gasses in our atmosphere has not risen for the last 3 years. Additionally, new technologies that are currently being developed promise to reduce our carbon footprint, rather than just reacting to it. And though I have not finished reading his compelling work, I do hope to discover ways that I can make a real difference in my own life, even as I remain firmly ensconced in my comfort zone. 

Let me know your thoughts and what you and or your community are doing to address climate change

-Shane Eric Mathias

An Inconvenient Truth - We Should Not Ignore

You cannot go even one day without reading or hearing a news report related to our changing climate. The reason for this is that the ripples we have set in motion are building more rapidly than most imagined possible. 

There were those who saw this day coming and tried to warn us, but most of us just figured the problem would get solved somehow. Well here we are and though there are positive movements in the works such as the Paris Climate Agreement, there are those in power who are seeking a political and or economic benefit to withdrawing the support of the United States of America in a global solution. 

But we are fortunate to have Al Gore, who has been attempting to get our attention to the power of this building crisis at least since 2006, with the publishing of his first book: An Inconvenient Truth

Read on to learn more about the history of this movement and how you can now get involved and involve others in real and lasting change. 

I recall reading  "An Inconvenient Truth" Vice President Gore's first book on the climate crisis, when it came out in 2006.

For many, this may have been their first awareness of a mandate for environmental action But, many other prominent voices over the last two-hundred years have attempted to capture our attention to the inevitability of crisis we now face.

Notable among those were James Lovelock and his powerful series of Gaia books, "Gaia" being the ancient Greek word for Earth.

 

 

 

 

 

Long before that, the unlikely activist Rachel Carson shook the world into a renaissance of transcendental fervor with her brilliant work "Silent Spring".

Her thorough research and compelling message began a movement so strong, it resulted in the enactment of The Endangered Species Act, of 1973. Signed into law by a Republican, President Nixon.

I am proud to say that I have witnessed these courageous acts during my lifetime and in my own way, woven each leader's message into the fabric of my own life.

But never has a leader in the Environmental Movement taken on such a challenge as Mr. Gore.

Recruiting concerned citizens from all over the globe to be ambassadors advocating for our Planet's future, which of course is Humanity's future.

I am delighted to have an opportunity to join one of my heros in the field of science to truly bring this juggernaut of climate change to a halt.

And now you can too!

There has never been a time more critical than now, but it will take the actions of every soul to reverse what has been indisputably created by our own hand.

The Earth and Humanity need a Health Plan, a new, powerful campaign for true and lasting change and a leader to take us there.

The time is now, the leader is the Nobel Laureate Al Gore and the vehicle is the Climate Reality Leadership Corps. Sign up today. Win the right to brag to your grandchildren that you were a change-maker, when it counted. The future is truly in our hands.

Get on board and join us. We need you today.

The Local Solution to Global Warming and Environmental Degradation

In Southern California, it feels like we are at the epicenter of the climate change phenomenon. Though living only a few miles from the coast, we still experience temperatures well in excess of 100 degrees throughout much of the Summer. 

Here in San Diego, we've often been associated with a temperate climate. "Sunny and 70's" was a slogan that was so often repeated by weather anchors on the local news that their existence seemed almost pointless.

Now however, even well into Fall, we experience wide fluctuations on the thermometer, with maybe a 20 degree spit between one day and the next. That is why the term: "Global Climate Instability" is actually more accurate than "Global Warming".

As satellites and computer modeling have improved weekly weather forecasting, long term trends have become much harder to predict. The severity of Droughts, Hurricanes and what is considered here in California to be year round fire season underscore that whether through human generated carbon emissions or other celestial forces, our environment is changing dramatically and there seems to be nothing we can do to stop the juggernaut. 

Or is there?

We decided to take a road trip, up the West Coast to Ashland Oregon. Partly to escape the heat and partly to see how other areas are being affected by and coping with our changing climate. What we found was confirming and also eye-opening and caused me to realize a simple fact:

Those areas with an abundance of trees were cooler, wetter and had fewer and narrower temperature fluctuations. 

 

Now one could effectively argue that cooler, wetter weather gives rise to more trees, not the other way around. But studies of rainforests around the world have proven that they do in fact create their own weather conditions, through the absorption of carbon from the atmosphere; the transport of moisture from the ground into the air, causing localized cloud formations; the preservation and recycling of nutrients in the soil that support colonies of beneficial fungi, bacteria and plant life, which further broadens the carbon sink and the retention of essential water stores. 

When rain does occur, these forest canopies diminish the potentially destructive impact of falling water by acting as a catch and release system, dripping moisture delicately onto the soil to prevent erosion. That water sinks into the spongy, nutrient rich soil and is held there, until aquifers are full and saturation is established. When that happens, water begins seeping out, forming rivulets, then creeks, eventually swelling rivers and filling reservoirs. 

As this simple cycle is repeated over and over, water stores increase, the forest grows, weather patterns begin to stabilize, rain becomes more frequent, droughts diminish and fires become far less frequent severe. 

What Can You Do to Slow or Reverse
the March of Climate Change?

Plant more trees!

It's a simple as that. Plant trees in your yard and encourage others to do the same. Work at your community, town and city level to bring greater awareness to the issue, gaining political and financial support for greater governmental involvement in forest planting, cultivation and maintenance. 

For more information, visit the Arbor Day Foundation. Start working toward your own local movement today. It may be the best way for you to make a lasting and positive impact on our precious planet.

-Shane Eric Mathias

 

 

Our Jamaican Adventure

 

The mixed blessing of travel brings with it the possibility of a perfect memory or the disappointment of an abject failure. That is what makes it an adventure. In most cases, the overall experience falls somewhere in the broad middle, as was the case with our Jamaican vacation.

Ours began at 3 AM on Monday. We had put off packing until the night before and collapsed into bed at 11:30 pm. With barely 3 hours of sleep the next morning, we downed something resembling a breakfast, gathered our bags and alerted a Lyft driver to pick us up at 3:45. 

Getting to the airport

This was our first time using an app on my phone to arrange a taxi ride, but we were reassured that it couldn’t be easier. I downloaded the app, put in my credit card information and saw that even at the witching hour of 4am, there were drivers within 8 minutes of my home, ready to whisk us off to the airport. 

I was still beyond skeptical, but when our driver, Issam showed up in front of our house right on the dot, I became an instant believer. He was a polite and courteous gentleman that made what could have been a hectic rush to the airport, pleasant and worry free. 

Flying to Jamaica from California on American Airlines always requires a connecting flight, either in Dallas or Miami. This early morning flight from San Diego, surprisingly would be full but we left right on time at 6:20 am. 

Flying these days is kind of like traveling in an airborne cattle car. God forbid if you’re tall, overweight or have joint problems and cannot sit motionless for long periods. You are going to be uncomfortable. It’s a given. But the connection in Dallas went off without a hitch and by 3:42pm, Jamaican time, we were touching down in Montego Bay. 

Jamaica is a world apart. Once in Jamaica, you’re on Jamaican time and playing by Jamaican rules. And there are lots of rules. This may be true of traveling to any country abroad, but if you forget your passport or bring only the card, rather than the book, they will abruptly send you back. Can you imagine? After all that planning and hassle, to finally arrive only to be told you have to get your butt back on the plane and go home. Thank god that was not our fate. 

Package deals

Our package featured an all inclusive stay at a popular resort in Montego Bay. But “all inclusive” does not mean the same everywhere. One would expect that those paying premium prices, should receive premium service, but Jamaica is for all intents and purposes still a 3rd world country. 

Your expectations may not be fulfilled, even if they are clearly stated on your itinerary. Because the one in charge of making that happen is standing at the counter in front of you. And if he or she is having a bad day or doesn’t like the look of your t-shirt, you’re out of luck. In some countries, a monetary incentive, known in legal vernacular as “a bribe” may bridge the gap between what you want and what the employee is willing to provide. Whether that would have worked in this case, I have no idea. 

In many countries around the world, whose economies fail to meet the basic needs of their respective populations, there is certainly an underground currency that is fueled by money, goods and services changing hands off the record, under the table or behind closed doors. If you’re not willing to participate in this dark market, you may spend a lot of time standing around and complaining; being gouged, misled or even lied to. 

The one alternative currency is kindness and it’s not hard to understand why. Because, most assuredly envy and bitterness lurks in the consciousness of those living in these impoverished nations. Especially when they are treated badly by tourists who may spend more on a single vacation than they earn in an entire year.

When you view your service personnel from this perspective, it becomes much easier to tolerate less than perfect treatment now and again. 

Trinkets everywhere

One other symptom of an impoverished country is the fact that a large portion of the population is either unemployed or at the very least, underemployed and desperate to receive the much needed assistance that tourist dollars can provide. 

And once you leave the illusory confines of the resort and begin walking the streets, you are descended upon by hordes of independent marketeers that attempt to engage you in conversation in order to interest you in buying some trinket which is often described as handmade by local artisans, but which most likely in fact was manufactured by the thousands in China. 

However, much more seductive than their wares are the emotions that are conjured up when you witness the kindness they exude, even in the midst of their desperate circumstances. It’s very hard to walk away without feeling a tug on your heart strings. 

But the need is so great and your travel budget often so small, that shrewdness must rule the day. It quickly becomes essential to learn how to say NO. This is the unfortunate reality today in many parts of the world, where so many go hungry or suffer for lack of proper shelter or healthcare. And Jamaica is no exception.

Dunn's River Falls

On the brighter side, Jamaica is a beautiful island. And perhaps because of the absence of “big money” much of the forest, river system and coastline remain relatively unaltered. Venturing into these pristine areas can offer wondrous adventure, but also a degree of danger. So when small excursion companies create a way to engage Nature, while minimizing the risks, memorable experiences can be had. 

One such opportunity can be found at Dunn’s River Falls, near the town of Ocho Rios. The town is so named because it boasts eight rivers that run nearby. Three of these rivers run all year long and one is called Dunn’s River. When you enter the grounds, you are surrounded by a beautiful tropical forest. The roar of the nearby waterfall accompanies you all the way down to the starting point, where you can partake in an adventure that may be unique in all the world. 

Along with perhaps twenty other persons, from all over the world and all walks of life, we were greeted and instructed by an energetic and charismatic young man who would be our guide. 

The task? To hike from the bottom of the waterfall, 620 feet to the top, while being completely soaked by the descending torrent. All joking aside, without the expert instruction and support of our guide, such a stunt would indeed be dangerous and foolish. But holding each other’s hand, we all slowly made our way up the twisting and turning cascade, assisted by our water shoes, which we bought in town and which are in fact mandatory for participation in the adventure. To be honest, we both lost our balance and got a little bruised up. But it was a small price to pay for such a rare and exhilarating treat. 

Transportation on the island

Jamaica is also a big island and getting around is not easy. There are taxis everywhere and if you’re staying in a resort, the resident drivers will impose stiff fees and time limits on your travel. Therefore, it pays to venture outside to find other drivers who will give you a better deal. 

To provide you an idea what you can expect to pay, on the day we traveled to the falls, we were picked up by a driver we were introduced to the day before by a shop owner. He already knew our plan for the day and assured us he would remain at our service throughout, as we made our way from our hotel to the falls and back. 

The trip is about an hour and a half each way, from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios. We spent a couple of hours at the falls, after which, he picked us up and and drove us to lunch. When he returned us to our lodging 5 hours later and for all this attention, we paid him $120 U.S., or about $24 per hour. 

Renting a car? Not a good idea...

If you're thinking that renting a car would be a viable option, let me caution you! I'm not even sure they are available, but even if so, Jamaicans drive on the left side of the road, as they do in all of England. If you have never piloted a vehicle from-what would be considered in many countries-the passenger seat, I don't recommend trying it in Jamaica.

Traffic can be heavy and local drivers pay little attention to rules of the road, passing on the left, right, middle, where ever they can. Pedestrians cross without warning and getting lost is a real possibility. Having an accident in Jamaica could quickly become a nightmare. Trust me, it's worth it to pay a little extra and leave the driving to someone more familiar with the peculiarities of their system. 

Jamaican money and exchange rates

Though the Jamaican dollar does exist and has a current exchange rate with he U.S dollar of about 120 to 1, it is rarely used. The U.S. dollar on the other hand, is accepted everywhere and is preferred by merchants. But as prices may appear in either currency it is useful to keep the exchange rate in mind when negotiating with those with whom you transact business, as this will help you determine whether you are receiving a fair deal. 

Make sure the bring a mixture of $20, $10, $5 and $1 bills with you. Street merchants are loathe to give change, presumably with the hope that you will accept another trinket in exchange or leave the remainder as a tip. Having the right change will remedy this problem. 

Who are the Jamaicans?

The native residents of Jamaica are descended from African slaves brought in first by the Spanish and later, the British to harvest sugar cane, which remains an important, export commodity for the island, albeit, less so than in the past. 

During their enslavement, they developed a unique dialect called Patua, in order to communicate without being understood by their slave masters. This language is still spoken today by all native Jamaicans, as well as English. This blending of dialects: British English and Patua, infuses their conversation with a charming accent. Common phrases Jamaicans will use with visitors are “yamon” (yes). “nomon”, (no) “one love”, (a salutation used when parting ways), “evryting good”, (it’s all good).

And they are a charming people, ready with a smile, an offer of assistance or a compliment, even when there is no monetary incentive. 

They are naturally friendly and generous and we felt perfectly safe walking around “The Hip Strip”, a part of Montego Bay set aside for tourists. 

That is to say that the casual visitor should not just venture off into other parts of the city by themselves. Most of the islands residents are poor and desperate. As a result, crime is high and tourist that wander thoughtlessly into residential neighborhoods, do so assuming a high degree of risk. Therefore, having a driver who speaks the local dialect, understands the culture and knows which areas are safe, can make the difference between having a pleasant vacation and suffering an unexpected calamity. 

What about Kingston?

Though we did not make the three hour drive from Montego Bay to Kingston, I understand that cruise ships often arrive there. If your group approaches the island from this side, you’ll be given several hours to peruse shops within a prescribed area and strongly discouraged from venturing outside those parameters into the outlying neighborhoods. This is good advice which should be followed for the reasons given earlier. 

Resorts and what you can expect to pay

Now I will tell you about our stay. Websites abound now offering deals on travel. Buyer beware, as some deals are indeed too good to be true. It is highly recommended to stay with well known, reputable travel purveyors that maintain a record of standing behind their service. We booked 5 nights and 6 days at a popular resort, in Montego Bay. The total cost for round trip flight from California, lodging and all inclusive meals and drinks for two persons was under $2000. 

All inclusive not the same everywhere

We have done a fair amount of travel and come to expect a certain aesthetic and level of service with all inclusive packages, but as I mentioned earlier, not all such packages are created equal. We encountered Byzantine rules for making dinner reservations and a dress code which seemed pretentious for an island resort, where the humidity and aquatic activities dictate shorts and tank tops, rather than pants and collared shirts as the most practical attire. 

We found shampoo in the room, but no conditioner. Bottled water had to be purchased from the souvenir shop before 6pm, as it was not provided by the staff. The landline phone did not work, despite three requests to have it fixed. And construction down the hall made our room all but uninhabitable during the daytime hours. 

But one observant manager took pity on us and secured a much better room with a phone that worked and that was far from the chatter of the jack hammer. Additionally, it was an upgrade with a ocean front balcony and an excellent air conditioner. But this change occurred sadly only two days before our scheduled departure. Our enjoyment would have been enhanced if this had been our room all along. 

Having said that, this dated resort had it’s own funky charm, more than adequate food quality and stupendous entertainment. Something we had not counted on. Among the evening acts taking place on their large outdoor stage were amazing singers and dancers. During the day, DJ’s played a wide variety of great music. Music which I have not heard played in the States in many years. I wondered where all the great music of the 60’s 70’s and 80’s went. Now I know, it lives in Jamaica. 

Jamaicans love music and play it constantly. But surprisingly absent is the mind numbing rap which has all but taken over the airwaves in American cities. Instead, ballads from the likes of Willie Nelson, Adele, Elton John and of course the king of Reggae, Bob Marley waft out of vehicles, storefronts and bicycle mounted boom boxes.  This had the effect of making me feel very much at home. 

It is incredible how the presence of the right musical accompaniment can add a sentimental dimension to any experience. 

How about the weather?

The weather in Jamaica, indeed in all of the Caribbean is usually hot and muggy. Even in May, when we traveled, we found the temperature to be in the mid to high 80’s and the humidity a pervasive companion, except when air conditioning is present, as it was in our room. Retiring there several times a day to rest and recuperate can extend your energy and stamina. But one eventually becomes acclimated to the conditions and I began to feel exhilarated by the sun’s energy. 

The constant daytime activity of most vacations can cause us to forget to drink sufficient water. This might not be an issue in a milder climate, but in the tropics, you can soon become dehydrated. Be sure to carry water, where ever you go and drink it often. If headaches and exhaustion suddenly overtake you, chances are you haven’t consumed enough liquids. You’ll need to slow down and get rehydrated.

Before you go...

There is so much more of Jamaica that remains for us to see. We learned about additional places we would have liked to visit during our stay, but the lack of affordable transportation and time prevented us from exploring as much as we would have liked. In retrospect, I wish we had done more research before our vacation began on places we wanted to see and set aside more capital for transportation. But alas, this is the unpredictable nature of travel and at the very least, serves as an incentive to return someday to continue our adventure. 

Feel free to hit me up for questions about Jamaica and our trip in particular. I highly recommend this tropical odyssey as a way to dip your feet in the clarity, warmth and beauty of the Caribbean. 

 

Shane Eric Mathias

 

To Discover Your Wild Self, Adopt a Piece of Ground And Give It Love

When I write, I have a favorite spot in my home that looks out on my garden, the inspiration for which came from my early childhood experiences in my Grandparents backyard.

That same wild world rubs edges with my own, serving as scaffolding of order in an often confusing human world. From that scaffolding, I can peer beyond the mountain of news and social drama that unfortunately insidiously hijacks our sense of "reality.

So how can we cause this link to Nature to bubble up into our daily lives? How can we begin to fully appreciate that we truly are all an intentional result of Nature’s creative expression, rather than a pernicious invader?

With all the news about pandemics, sputtering financial markets, global warming, the shrinking ice caps, disappearing species and the like, it is easy to believe that mankind has become an unwelcome interloper to a once pristine wilderness. A brief biological experiment that has gone terribly wrong.

And it is true, human beings have and do exert tremendous pressure on the planet. Pressure that science tells us is causing rapid changes to our climate, oceans and biome. And I have no doubt that it’s true.

But the fact is, throughout our planet’s long history, many dramatic shifts have occurred, tilting the tenuous environmental balance in favor of certain species and against others. Volcanos, meteor impacts, shifting land masses, etc, have all wrought dramatic and lasting changes to the way our planet now looks and functions. Yet still, it remains a shining gem in the universe.

Our home is perhaps the only place we will ever know that is capable of supporting life in such abundance and it shows no sign of throwing in the towel. Should humankind take better care of our precious Earth? Absolutely.

And thankfully, many of the world’s governments are discussing and developing legislation that will cause a shift to more renewable energy sources, the curbing carbon emissions, the prosecution of environmental crimes and the restoration of critical habitats, so that the plants and animals with whom we share the planet can thrive along side us, on land as well as in our oceans. 

From this perspective, it becomes possible to redirect our emotional posture over our changing planet from one of guilt to one of innovation.

Conceiving of new ways live more sustainably with Nature. Drive less, use water and other resources more thoughtfully and most importantly, find a patch of terra firma where you can begin to cultivate life.

Our incredible planet is endlessly productive and with a little help, every place on Earth is capable of supporting plant and animal life.

Pour all your love and care into that sacred ground and watch it respond with abundance and gratitude. It is through this change in your perceptual relationship to Nature and your intimate involvement with it, that you will begin to discover and become acquainted with your inner Wild Self.

-Shane Eric Mathias

Author of "The Happiness Tree" 

 

Growing Your Happiness - Literally!

For those of you who have read my book "The Happiness Tree",  or at least several of my blog posts, you know that I am a big advocate of getting outside as much as possible. Which for a writer, can be a bit of a challenge. But there in lies the imperative to find a balance.

Very few of us have the time or inclination to drive miles to a hiking trail on a regular basis, to reconnect with Nature, but that connection is essential to your Happiness strategy. So what can you do to keep the Natural world accessible and integrated into your busy life?

Tend a garden.

I am very lucky to have a fairly large piece of property in a rural area of San Diego county, California. The weather here just about defines “perfect”. As such, I can grow a wide variety of flowering plants along with edible fruits and vegetables.

A few years ago, I converted an unused slope in my back yard into a terrace garden. I won't lie, it was a lot of work and not cheap. But it is now a source of great pride now for me, each time I wake up and gaze out on my yard. I beckons me each morning to make that essential connection. 

Any involvement with the garden now pays exponential dividends: exercise, sunshine, harvesting the bounty I’ve helped to create, breathing fresh air, seeing life burgeoning and blossoming all around me. The feeling is stupendous and I now know that gardening in one form or another will be a part of my life from now on.

 

But what if you live in an apartment or your home sits on a small lot?

As long as you have even a balcony, you can grow an amazing variety of beautiful and productive plants. Tomatoes are one of the first to come to mind. They can be left in a pot with a plastic or wire scaffold to support the fruit. Just water, fertilize once in a while and voila! You’ll eventually have juicy and delicious tomatoes to enjoy in a salad or as a marinara sauce.

 

 

 

 

If you have a yard of any size, there is often unused or poorly used space that can be "repurposed" for a garden. Planting along a fence is a great strategy that provides support for those plants that need it and leaves the majority of the yard available for recreation. 

 

Cilantro, mint, parsley, kale and many other leafy veggies can be grown in small planters, providing healthy and delicious flavor and color to your culinary creations. 

 

 

 

 

But you may not even have a balcony. What then?

In almost every major city, there are community gardens that operate like a co-op. You join for little or no money and contribute your time to build and maintain the garden, then reap the benefits of fresh, healthy food to take home. I highly encourage everyone to check out the expanding opportunities for community gardens in their neighborhoods. They provide all the benefits of outdoor exercise, with the added joy of social interaction. 

I cannot think of any activity that incorporates as many Happiness strategies as Gardening. When work, relationships, money and gadgets become tedious and fail to satisfy, look to Nature. She is the one friend, therapist, parent, confidant, playmate and exercise partner who will always be available and ready to support your happiness. Think about it!

-Shane Eric Mathias

Author of "The Happiness Tree"  Available here

STRIVING FOR PERFECTION STIFLES CREATIVITY AND SETS YOU UP FOR FAILURE

Here is the problem: You yearn for a challenge: to write, draw, paint, sculpt or create something unique, but you never start. Something holds you back. What is it? 

Many people feel they will need to meet some preconceived and frankly unattainable level of perfection, if the result of their efforts is to have any value. And placing that expectation on any creative endeavor stops innovation in its tracks. Because any skill must be honed and improved through experimentation, and by definition, you cannot improve on perfection. 

How and when did you begin to believe
that art has no value unless it's perfect?

Like many of us, as a child, you may have been led through museums by your parents, or on school field trips. You may have marveled at the paintings and sculptures you discovered and decided then and there that artists must possess some god-given magic that mere mortals lack. 

Of course, as casual observers, we see only the final product. What is hidden from our awareness are the countless hours of trial and error: the cracked marble, the torn canvas, the paints that didn’t hold together or that changed color when they dried. 

Because artists rarely reveal their failures or allow us to gaze upon the renditions that didn’t make it into the frame or on to the pedestal. So we form an impression that sets the great artisan apart from the rest of humanity.

And that quality which we presume is possessed only by this select group is the ability to create perfection. But this is an illusion.

Having dabbled in art myself and having watched great artists in the creative process, I can tell you that art never journeys neatly from conception to completion. Rather it travels a chaotic and uncertain path. And though its creator may hold a desired vision in his mind, the final result is often a compromise made between his skills the behavior of his materials and whether or not luck was on his side for that particular project.

Many artists cannot bear to look at their own work for very long or very often, because they see the imperfections others do not. They are reminded of the countless hours of frustration and lost hope they had to overcome just to keep going.

Therefore, when you marvel at the surface of anything, be it an automobile, a sculpture, the sensuous curves of a building or a culinary masterpiece, what you fail to see is the often messy process that led to its creation. That process is part and parcel of the human experience.

 

  

Since the beginning of time humans have sought to emulate the perfection found in Nature.

But science tell us that even Nature has conducted countless experiments along the evolutionary course, to arrive at the world we know today. 

 

 

So what is the take away message here? That perfection or near perfection is only achieved through many hours of trial and error. One’s first attempt at anything almost never produces the desired result. It must be repeated over and over, the approach to the challenge needing ever so careful tweaking to bring a “better mousetrap” to fruition. 

Here is the solution: Begin that journey of creativity and don't listen to the internal critic. If along the way, you find yourself being frustrated and engaging is self reproach, stop and take a breath. Step away from the challenge and recognize that you must be willing to fail and start again, or at the very least, adopt an attitude that embraces the development of skills through the commission of mistakes. This is how we learn!

Then and only then, may you finally realize that Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Shakespeare and you aren’t really all that different. Like them, you share the persistent desire to improve. And you use the same method that they used to do so...

....Good old fashioned hard work!

-Shane Eric Mathias

Author of "The Happiness Tree - Grow Your Happiness by Cultivating a Healthy, Creative and Purposeful Life. Now available here: 

Find the version of "The Happiness Tree" perfect for your device or reader: 

Kindle

Google Play