Wood Chips
From the shores of Lake Superior (The Third Coast)
Not long ago I had a fascinating conversation with Brian, an electrician and a good friend, who specializes in working with clients who own homes or cabins in remote areas of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We talked about recently retired folks he’s come to know, some of them with plenty of financial resources, who choose to build a cabin in the woods or on a lake, often miles from the nearest neighbor. Here’s what he discovered.
“They have expectations, of course,” he began, “but many of them move here from the city. They don’t understand the work, the day to day effort it takes to maintain a structure and a life-style in this kind of landscape.”
He continued, this time with a smile. “What I’ve noticed, is one of the first things that goes is a person’s grooming. Nobody’s watching. Who cares? Soon, even though you may be a relatively wealthy person, you’re walking around in your pajamas all day and eating out of cooking pans.”
During this Great Pause, much of the country is experiencing trying to “flatten out the curve” with social distancing. There’s a temptation just to let things go. Physically, spiritually, emotionally.
Here’s the take-away: Make sure you monitor your food choices and limit your exposure to media (especially news). Excessive television-watching is a passive form of engaging the world. It reinforces a pseudo-intimacy, the same kind of experience that comes from being in large collective groups. That, actually, can prove very isolating, It’s not an either/ or choice. It’s a balance question.
So, make sure to brush your teeth today. Take a bath or shower. Put some clean clothes on. You’ll feel better. You’ll also be ready, who knows, for that unexpected guest.
Jon
The Cedar Tree Institute
“Wood Chips” is a series of brief reflections written by Jon Magnuson, Director of the Cedar Tree Institute.
