Bipedal Programmer

What is "Personal Development"?

We have a new input for evaluation this year at Callibrity. We have a $500 stipend for "personal development". Examples given were learn a new human language, learn to play an instrument, cooking lessons, something new that is not technology related. Home brewing is in bounds. My desire to reduce my consumption of alcohol rules that out. My hobbies fall into hiking and gardening. Lots of space to grow in both.

What Would I do Differently?

This seems like a good time for a universal gap year. The children of the wealthy enjoy a year abroad after high school. As a country we can afford to implement a tax on compensation beyond one million per year, and use it to pay for a universal dividend until 2022. I have been a fan of online training, asynchronously, for a while now. Let everyone do that in real time for a year. If they want synchronous, fine.

How to Spend My Downtime?

I have been looking for some time away from the homestead. The critters and the weather are beating the hell out of the garden this year. I really just want to hit the road and camp. The family Conestoga is a little long in the tooth, but I would love to have a summer with the kids before they go their own way. A cruise ship is really not my cup of tea. I like wilderness, not commercial tourism.

Where are the Electrons?

I got up and started getting ready. I looked up at the clock expecting to see a time somewhere around 08:30, except no clock. Tried the light, no light. Power was out. Checked the router, it is on a UPS but Spectrum does not function when the power goes out. Headed up to the bedroom window to find enough 3G to get a message out to work. Decided to take my shower early today.

Why Is This Happening?

Tuesday night is my night to go to my parent’s place and do any chores that they need doing. I can usually get through the chores in under a half hour. In a normal year we would spend a couple of hours watching baseball. This is not a normal year. Dad is declining, he is about to turn 86, so I do not worry about that. He did not have an easy life, and I really admire how well he raised me.