Quotidian Tasks

The science of the routine. How many times do we get through a week, shake our heads, and ask...

"What exactly did I accomplish?"

It's a hard question to answer when you've been on autopilot, as humans are prone to do. Curiously enough, I find that when I'm on autopilot, it's often because I've been doing things that I find enjoyable.

Running a familiar route.

Watching a movie.

Getting up. Going to work. Coming home. (x5)

I wouldn't say that autopilot is morally wrong. And--enjoying life certainly isn't wrong (if I couldn't watch Andy Griffith re-runs, I'm not sure life would be worth living). All the same, I do worry that living life on autopilot causes us to have tunnel vision.

Tunnel vision?

Tunnel vision.

Why take that left turn on that dirt road, when going straight means I'll finish my run in exactly thirty minutes?

Why risk interruptions by reading a book to the family, when watching a movie would keep everyone easily entertained?

Why switch jobs, when I'm "guaranteed" to retire early if I just get up, go to work, and come home every day for the next thirty years?

"But Daniel," you say. "Isn't adventure enjoyable too?"

Most definitely. But see--we often live by the saying that "one in the hand is worth two in the bush." You already have a grouse in hand. That nice, comfortable, autopilot routine. Why risk upsetting the canoe in search of that extra bit of meat?

Many people don't see why they should do such a thing, and go home and cook that bird over a spit. A few people dive into the bushes. Some catch the bird. Some lose the bird they had in the pursuit. All come home with grass stains. But here's the clincher...

...maybe the joy is in the pursuit.

Until next time,
- Daniel

Rock Climbing

Rock climbing is an activity where you attempt to scale sheer cliffs without dying. To help, you're allowed a rope, a carabiner, a harness, and a partner you trust to hold the rope.

If belaying isn't suicidal enough for you, dispense with that partner and try rappelling solo instead. The main benefit is that you won't suffer the humiliation of someone watching you die. The drawback is you end up in a weird Schrödinger's cat sort of situation.

The final tier of adventure is free climbing, where it's you against the rock. No equipment, no friends. Skill against skill alone. If you lose, you get to spend the last few seconds of your existence thinking about how you were outsmarted by a rock.

Now, it's entirely possible that you'd like to experience the thrill of free climbing without becoming a statistic smeared over the rock below. And--fortunately--your wish can be reality.

It's called bouldering.

Take a wall that's no higher than 10 feet or so, put a cushy mat below, and the worst that can happen is a sprained ankle. It's still a thrill, and kind of addictive besides.

I admit it, I went rock climbing today for the first time, and it was immense fun. The Portland Rock Gym is a fantastic indoor arena with options for belaying, rappelling, and bouldering. My brothers and I had a blast, and--two pieces of good luck--the first week is free, and I have next week off from work.

It might turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to my upper body.

Oh, and the best thing? You get to make "Cliffs of Insanity" jokes as much as you want.

Until next time,
- Daniel

Perpetuity

Toyota is known for its reliable cars. Some people have a theory that a Toyota, well maintained, will run forever. Forever being 300-, 400-, or even 500,000 miles.

That's a long time. If you drive 10,000 miles a year, that's a 50-year automobile.

However, Toyota is equally well known for producing responsible cars that are underwhelming to look at and drive. They appeal well to septuagenarians, but not so much to 20-somethings who crave excitement and energy.

So, you end up in this interesting situation of owning a car that will run forever but you probably won't want to own forever. Your only hope is to make it die prematurely. And--as we all know--Toyotas are notoriously difficult to kill.

If you haven't guessed, I own a Toyota. It's a Corolla with 150,000 miles on it. I've owned it for five years, and it's still running strong. My attempts to kill it include:

• Driving over fist-sized rocks in Hells Canyon
• Having the engine pressure-washed
• Hitting speed bumps at 40 MPH
• Backing into a 30-foot trailer

These attempts have utterly failed.

Well, if you can't beat 'em... join 'em.

I now have a new mission. Keep my car running until it hits 400,000 miles. It'll be good for my self-restraint, for my bank account, and for my theft resistance.

It's also good for my mission to find a girl who doesn't care especially for fast sports cars. But I digress... ;-)

Until next time,
- Daniel