Virtual Symposium 28, my 1st ever, how strange! - a Blog Post by greekphilosopher

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3/2/2017 4:39 pm

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2/3/2023 2:52 am

Virtual Symposium 28, my 1st ever, how strange!

Life as a single man was finally getting easy. The struggles of years past had left their mark on him, in body and mind. But they were just that, years past. They had left him, along other things, a rich man. Not in material terms, flash cars, or bloated bank accounts, more as in a mental state of a good thinker. He had no need or plans for new loans, credit cards, or new mortgages to service. He also had no debts. He did not have a house to call his own, but he always had a home. Home was wherever he happened to be. A nomad, but no mad. He was earning less these days, but surprisingly he had more to spend than ever before. And although he had less material things, he was also happier. It had taken him years to realize that! Winter time, he would live in London, fixing that 'footprint' of his. In the summer, he would move to his holiday home, in Greece, in a little island in the middle of the Aegean. His summer home was not a luxury villa, but he had a roof over his head, and it was 20 meters from the beach. On the edge of an olive grove. The crickets sounds would force anyone sitting down, to a mini nap, but for him, coincidentally, it happened when the sun was at it's hottest and the shop was quiet. Everyday. In the early afternoon, when he pretended to read his book on his deckchair, under the shade of a tree. Right in front of his home, his boat was moored on the water. An old wooden tiny boat with oars, and a small outboard engine. He would use that, early mornings, to go out on the bay and fish. For lunch. His summer job during the days involved opening his shop up at 10 in the morning, and serve his customers until 6 in the evening. The work was not very stressful, but he had to look after his customers, the inventory, and the till. His wages were reflecting the lack of stress, but were enough for a few beers and a packet of tobacco everyday. At some evenings he would help on a local taverna for a couple of hours. It was enough to guarantee him use of the wash rooms, some dinner, and maybe one more beer. You see, his summer home was just a tent! In an olive grove.

The view, from my summer home, 05.30 AM late April
His shop was right in front, on the beach, hiring out two canoes and three pedalos! He would sit under his umbrella all day, observing the life on the beach, people watching, or planning his target for the evening if he felt lonely. A life stress free. Completely free. Not a care in the world, no need to even know the day or the date, as long as the sun kept coming up every morning. And it did. Day after day. Thoughts of London and the footprint would race through his mind at times, momentarily, like asteroids, now you see them now you don't. He did not wish to forget. And when he was in London, the asteroids were from the beach at summer. He liked both! He liked the life he was having at summers, in the summer, and his winter life, at winters. They were both kind of home from home. Both nice, both to be lived in, racing asteroids. Which side was the real one? Which was the dream? He never knew. How strange! A stranger in a strange land called home from home.

Joke? No Joke? Ok, tradition, so just the one. Not mine, obviously, from the stash...

Just to be clear
PRISON: You spend most of your time in a 10X10 cell
WORK: you spend most of your time in an 6X6 space
PRISON: You get three meals a day, fully paid for
WORK: You get a break for one meal and you have to pay for it
PRISON: For good behaviour, you get time off
WORK: For good behaviour, you get more work
PRISON: The guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you
WORK: You must carry a security card and open all the doors yourself
PRISON: You can watch TV and play games
WORK: You could get fired for watching TV and playing games
PRISON: You get your own toilet
WORK: You have to share the toilet with people who pee on the seat
PRISON: They allow your family and friends to visit
WORK: You aren't even supposed to speak to your family
PRISON: All expenses are paid by the taxpayers with no work required
WORK: You must pay all your expenses to go to work, and they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners
PRISON: You spend most of your life inside bars wanting to get out
WORK: You spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars
PRISON: You must deal with sadistic wardens
WORK: They are called 'managers'