full time

Goddamn, a full-time job is time consuming.

I appreciate that this full-time dedication allows us extreme productivity -- as an economy -- in which goods and services and gizmos are produced at such a dizzying pace.

But I think something is lost when everyone has their nose to the grindstone, unable to pursue their other interests, to dabble. We are all such specialists. Division of labor is goddamn efficient but it might not be the best way.

I fantasize about 50% time, about using that using that extra time to go explore the world and report on it. Grapple with matters like modern land use. Figure out where our water comes from and go and report on that. And learn to paraglide, of course, and read books.

Perhaps a more practical approach - endeavor to put in more efficient hours, to get stuff done, to eliminate that inevitable whiled-away time.

Loyalton wknd II

So Maria and I drove out to Loyalton again (an hour north of Truckee) for a winter weekend adventure. My uncle Mike's partner Andrea has a house out there, in Sierra Valley, in a little tiny town in the least populous county in all of California. It's cozy with a wood stove and Victorian furniture.

We went snowshoeing in a gale, in a heavy cold rain accompanied by strong gusts of wind. But we were attired appropriately for a short jaunt in such conditions and therefore were happy. My first time snowshoeing! Happily the rain turned to snow, and after an hour or two tromping around we returned to base.

Returning to the Bay Area, I enjoyed driving back via CA-49, a circuitous mountain road that visits several terribly idyllic small oldtime mountain towns, like Sierra City and Downeyville. The Yuba river was a gushing torrent in the canyon, and long sinuous white cataracts added highlights to the canyon walls. Dinner in Nevada City at Three Forks Brewing.

A cozy and fun winter weekend was had. Nonetheless still a bit envious of my colleagues and their Ski Weekends. Gotta do a little social networking to get invited on such a jaunt.