Coming back from a sunset walk with my dog, I had the pleasure of looking at yet another crinkly chiaroscuro of desert mountains. I hope I never get tired of them. In fact it is quite remarkable how some pleasures never wear out.
Why so? We get used to the idea that most things get tiresome and old very quickly. It is even worse in a media-saturated society, because the media is always chasing novelty. It is worse yet in a citified culture, where people live 'fast', and chase the latest fad as if it will raise their self-esteem.
Naturally I didn't have my camera along, but even if I had, the result would not have been a noteworthy postcard. The scene was ordinary, but I loved it.
As the opposite of hectic, citified, fad-and-novelty chasing, consider breathing. We never refuse to take a breath because it is old hat, repetitive, or un-novel.
Perhaps natural cycles of use and non-use are the explanation. Certain things will always give pleasure, but only after they are allowed to rest for the time that is natural to a human life. Admiring the crinkles of desert mountains is limited to 20 minutes at sunrise and sunset.
Keeping several things interesting is one of the under-rated arts of living. The platitude might be obvious, but in practice, it is not so easy to know how much time something should be allowed to rest.
It might explain the apparent paradox of why a blogger who usually belittles the scenery-obsession of other travelers -- especially RV newbies -- has managed to stay interested in scenery for so long.
Why so? We get used to the idea that most things get tiresome and old very quickly. It is even worse in a media-saturated society, because the media is always chasing novelty. It is worse yet in a citified culture, where people live 'fast', and chase the latest fad as if it will raise their self-esteem.
Naturally I didn't have my camera along, but even if I had, the result would not have been a noteworthy postcard. The scene was ordinary, but I loved it.
As the opposite of hectic, citified, fad-and-novelty chasing, consider breathing. We never refuse to take a breath because it is old hat, repetitive, or un-novel.
Perhaps natural cycles of use and non-use are the explanation. Certain things will always give pleasure, but only after they are allowed to rest for the time that is natural to a human life. Admiring the crinkles of desert mountains is limited to 20 minutes at sunrise and sunset.
Keeping several things interesting is one of the under-rated arts of living. The platitude might be obvious, but in practice, it is not so easy to know how much time something should be allowed to rest.
It might explain the apparent paradox of why a blogger who usually belittles the scenery-obsession of other travelers -- especially RV newbies -- has managed to stay interested in scenery for so long.
Comments
Be Safe and Enjoy the environment.
It's about time.
There is a danger in any form of active engagement in seeking pleasure after pleasure. Epicurus had a very interesting view of this and, as you pointed out, one not currently in vogue by any form of "citified" folk.
In his view, the only genuine pleasure is the pure pleasure of existing....which I think you are getting at with your comment about breathing. To actively seek pleasure of the senses (sight, smell, taste, hearing, etc.) cannot last very long and one then goes seeking that thrill over and over again. It is an addiction unless one realizes that true pleasure is simply in experiencing existence itself.
He believes that this endless search for sensual pleasure leads to suffering for that is what we feel in between and so to alleviate the suffering (boredom, etc.) we go out hunting again. It's a goose chase.
This is not to suggest an ascetic stance of deprivation but more to realize and enjoy that moment of "breathing" and to dwell in the ordinary, the everyday, the common which you have done a great job representing in this post.
George
I had the same feelings this morning, as I sat outside our trailer parked at Palm Canyon Campground in Borrego Springs. I was watching the sun lighting up the rugged mountains to the west. The campground is surrounded by mountains, so I get to watch the mountain shadows change during the day on the southern and western flanks, and then the northern flank at the end of day (the southern flank is in shade after mid-afternoon).
Every year, during our annual, Summer-In-The Winter trip, I enjoy looking at desert mountains that are stark-naked, compared to the vegetation-covered mountains I see everyday the rest of the year in Western Oregon.
William