Let me get to know more about you....

[Whateverist]

[Thanks to Cessna man for the use of your template.]

Where do you come from? 

Born in Oakland, now residing about 5 miles north of there in Berkeley (both are in California, U.S. of Murica).  But as a navy brat I've lived in other port towns including San Diego (of course) and Maryland but mostly in the San Francisco bay area, a wonderful place to be but with a ridiculously high cost of living.


What do you do? 

I did teach math to middle school students about a mile down the road from us.  Now I go to the gym three days a week and get the dogs out for exercise everyday including a good walk a few times per week.  I'm reading a lot of novels these days, usually 3 or 4 a month and loving it.  Working out regularly, walking my dogs, making a garden and reading for pleasure is what luxury looks like for me.  I'm also minding my diet, trying to avoid suicide by lifestyle.
 

Why are you here? 

I've got a few people in my family who are stupid-religious.  I think I came here originally to have a more satisfying conversation with believers than what I could have with my father, one of my brothers or my vast mob of aunts, uncles and cousins.  Sometimes I succeed.  The thing is I feel like I can relate to some things that believers feel but I see no reason to jump to the hard certainties (most of them absurd and contradictory) that they do.    

But I've stayed for the many warm, funny and interesting people who hang out here.


What do you look for in your life? 

To: feel connected to others, gain insight into myself and our human condition, commune with nature, pal around with my dogs, play cards and other activities with my wife, make a garden, do a smidgeon of traveling, look for opportunities to experience being a beginner again at something new, and act on inspiration to make stuff.


Tell us something about your family, about your pet...and so on.... 

I'm on the downward slope of life, but what a ride.  Happy to have 64 years in the bank and hope to go on making deposits a while longer.  My wife is ten years older and has made a life around doing her artwork and teaching at CCA.  I'm fortunate to have one brother who I am especially close to who is ten years younger and married a wife 20 years younger than him, thereby giving me a niece and nephew who are our pseudo grandkids. 

You may have noticed I am a dog person.  Got my first when I was still in high school and have gotten six others since.  All but the newest were rescues and three of the seven I raised from young puppies.  

Photos:

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 My niece and I at the dog park.




My niece 'helping me' in the garden.




My 'grandkids' and I in the hot tub.




My wife and I a couple winters ago in Hawaii.




My wife in front of one of her pieces in a local show recently.




My furry kids on one of our favorite walks.




My most recently deceased furry kid, Fletcher, near his final 'resting place' in my garden.  Well, actually just a picture of his butt.




Heidi with Fletcher at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden.




Another view of my garden.  Fletcher is in there but hard to find.

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