14 Comments
User's avatar
Occupy Schagen's avatar

Congrats...

My closest neighbours are the 2 magpies in my street, after i joined their cry-fight with the gang of crows from around the corner, which to my astonishment caused the crows to blow the retreat and my magpies to victorious claim the rain gutter opposite my house.

When i go out to the shop around the corner, they greet me and i answer.

Due to my allergies, i don't have any pets and after 13 relations, including 4 marriages, i now live on my own enjoying my lifelong paid holiday which they call "retired".

I too try to payback with some talents i appear to have. Mostly about Truth.

But the children i have been able to support some years of their lives and the Internet, that i helped create in the world are my trophies up until now.

But this is the part of my life to see old fellow travellers disappear.

It's a wonderful world and it is passing by like everything in it. Coming and going...

According to Thomas, Jesus said: "Be passers-by".

So i don't attach to anything or anyone anymore.

There are many facts, but only one Truth. You can put the facts into words, but not the Truth.

(Sufi - Inayat Khan)

Expand full comment
Julian Macfarlane's avatar

I am not really "retired". I have no pension, and work here in Japan is slow now. I make just enough to get by. And amazingly I have found I don't need very much. I have a few good friends, my cats, and I love writing and thinking and learning all sorts of weird stuff -- and maybe if I am lucky doing that "giving back" thing. It amazes me that I am still alive, after the kind of life I have lived. So many that I knew are not. So I am blessed and thankful.

Expand full comment
Julian Macfarlane's avatar

How...true. Facts and words are one thing. The Truth another.

Expand full comment
Luca Baptista's avatar

Congrats. Well deserved. The network effect is real.

Expand full comment
Mike Caslin's avatar

When your choice goes towards good, you are getting to great.

America is only great when it is good!

Expand full comment
ralphrz's avatar

Lovely; but "ended up in Japan" should be, rather, "ended down in Japan."

Expand full comment
Julian Macfarlane's avatar

LOL. I LOVE it. "Ended DOWN in Japan. "

Expand full comment
Loon's avatar

Appreciate your penance. How does one know the truth unless up close to observe the inner workings of our oppressors.

Dsy that is right . Your normal in my view.

All of be best.

Expand full comment
Mike Caslin's avatar

EACH DAY YOUR BRIGHTNESS AND BOLDNESS LIGHTS UP THE DARKNESS! SO GLAD YOU ARE SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER! WITH THE SYSTEM FIXED NOT BROKEN, IT IS TIME FOR GOOD PEOPLE TO DO SOMETHING! YOU WORK IS PRECIOUS AND PRESCIENT. STAY THE COURSE!

Expand full comment
Julian Macfarlane's avatar

Thank you. I am not sure if I am a "good person" but I am trying.

Expand full comment
Peter Webster's avatar

Salut Julian,

Same age, wildly different trajectory but similar result. Happily marooned in a "foreign" nation.

Four cats, however!

Expand full comment
Julian Macfarlane's avatar

I had four also. Two passed away, sadly. All rescue cats. At one time, I had ten! What "foreign" nation are you in?

Expand full comment
Peter Webster's avatar

My cats live outside, wild, they hunt down pesky little beasts (https://www.wikiwand.com/fr/Glis_glis) that tend to invade our buildings. So we feed them to keep them around.

Here is foothills of the Alps in S. France.

Expand full comment
Julian Macfarlane's avatar

Doormice. The Romans ate them. Have you tried? But your cats will find them delicious. My cats are housecats. Never been outside except as kittens. As housecats they are very affectionate and a big "doggy". I like animals. Grew up with a half wolf dog and worked in a zoo. Better with animals than people mayb.

Expand full comment