I have this old friend. One of the few from the “day”. He is an osteologist and physical anthropologist that for the last 15 years traveled to Alaska every year to work for the US Fish And Wildlife Service. He spent time on many national parks and refuges up there in the north. Finally, after so many years, his contract ran out or was not chosen for renewal. Back in the 90’s I did my change and its been a matter of discussion over more than a few beers. If you think that Open Source developers partake; you ain’t seen nothing yet. Archeologists, paleontologists, geologists, all those earthy types seem to enjoy imbibing the suds. Well, as we discussed his changes of last year, he has finally accepted the fact that he is old (er). Not really old because neither of us feel old; but old-er. Old-er means you can look back on a few changes and with the vision of some eyes that have seen a few paths; dissect the memories and also see the patterns.
In this case, he felt seriously wounded by the lack of work and after doing the same thing for so many years; he felt betrayed. But there is no real betrayl I would argue with him. Its just life changing. Finally, after a year of doing some other kind of tromping around; namely traveling with nothing but a backpack and a variety of transit including the thumb, he came to a stark realization. Hence the phone call. He was in Carson City, Nevada; one of my favorite towns. Not gambling but drinking a sixpack of some ale. It came to him then he had to get back into the “swing of things”. He had to find the thing that would define him. Gentle reader, you ever noted when you reach a “definition point” that forces sometimes outside your paltry existance come into play? Well, he happened to check email at a kiosk or whatever. Call it a Starbucks. There it was. An offer letter to do long-term consulting with a school research project. He would also be asked to teach a class on prehistoric economies in the northwest coast!!
That’s when he called me. He said how strange it truly was that as he had backpacked and traveled and seen things and closely missed Katrina; that other forces guided him to that room, that beer, that email garden.
I believe that anthropologists have this clearer understanding of purpose and need and they see cosmic integrations much better. They also know that life is pretty finite and you have to make the bets, take the chances. For me, as Theo is wont to remind me; I chose too soon. He thinks I should have stuck it out longer. But we all make decisions and sometimes in the comfort of the armchair, one can make value judgements on memories. Now when I look at the primordial life I led; one of wandering, nomadism, countless cheap hotel rooms; I’m glad where I am. Its like what RWR had told me a few times, “always know where you are and what you are doing”.
Great advice! Now if I could get Theo up here for a few days; we could pretend it was 20 years ago and drink up the beer, do all the talking. It would be all goodness and we would revel in the yesterdays that each of us has left behind.
