Jones sez: Vo]:Earth Day - The new Lent?
> If your outlook on life has matured to the point where a degree > of "sacrifice" and "moderation" are replacing the "super-size-it" > mentality of consumerism- the outlook fostered on all of us > shamelessly by the media - then here are simple ways to reduce > the footprints which you leave on the planet. You can also > amplify your impact and commitment byencouraging others to follow > your lead. ... Here's my lent: I'm one of those rare individuals who can take advantage of the fact that they can walk to work. The trip, one way, takes approximately 16 - 17 minutes of strolling through mature wooded neighborhoods and a recently remodeled shopping mall. I'm discovering that walking has its good points, besides obvious health benefits. It's turning out to be a meditative experience. I must confess, however, that walking had not been my initial choice even though I knew all along that it was the politically correct eco-friendly thing to do, especially considering the fact that I live so damned close to work. Ultimately, it was the personal economics of the situation that drove me to my current fate. I couldn't continue constantly being nickled and dimed to death trying to maintain the upkeep on our secondary car, a 1994 Ford Escort. I eventually donated it to a worthy charity a couple of months ago. Meanwhile, my spouse, She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed, gets dibs on the household's sole remaining car. Typically she gets it three to four days out of the workweek due to mandatory shopping errands, trips to the health fitness center, and taking protesting cats to the vet for their shots and other related indignities. My advise to those who do not live near work: Move closer to work. Negotiate with your boss if at all possible to telecommute on certain days of the week. They might be more receptive than one might initially think. Get used to taking the bus. Regarding riding the bus: I remember reading a lot of novels that way - far more than I do now. It's all trade-offs. Regards, Steven Vincent Johnson www.OrionWorks.com www.zazzle.com/orionworks
