Living in the Non-Material World
Ongoing realization: much of what I can and will do these days is online: talking with friends and family, shopping, finding out stuff, seeing new things, teaching and showing my art. I do have the joy and deep blessings of living in a wonderful nature-filled spot (although 100 degree plus heat is limiting the hours I am actually out in it). We planted a fabulous garden that is bearing tomatoes like no other year. We see a few friends and neighbors from a distance and head out for in person shopping trips when necessary (with masks, with caution, with lots of washing up). I don't lack for food or resources and I'm self-employed in a one-woman studio (with my own in-house video producer). I know I am among the fortunate.
I find that I am easily doing without many things that seemed essential BP: stopping in at my favorite thrift store for new things to wear,* getting my hair cut and occasionally my toenails painted, driving into San Antonio a few times a week to have someone else cook and clean (that's an hour each way minimum from our house).
Stretching out in the virtual world can be both adventurously satisfying and sometimes a big time sink. I'm not sure how I can click on Instagram or FB and an hour passes in the blink of a tweet.
On the plus side, I'm making more art, having more conversations with relatives and friends who are afar, settling undistracted into healthy and happy routines with Linda, Penny (the dachshund) and ZZ (the cat). Even putting new online courses into place and working on my art biz systems. All things I didn't do "before."
Some of the online scrolling has led to some not-so-guilty virtual pleasures. Here are a few of my discoveries in no particular order. I'd love to hear some of yours.
Recomendo, a weekly newsletter sourced from Tweets and full of new rabbit holes to explore. Here's a couple of ideas from this week's contributors:
Travel without moving I just spent the last ten minutes on Window Swap staring out a window in Villalago, Italy, where I could see the mountains and hear birds chirping and church bells ringing. Anyone is welcome to submit video (and audio) of their window view, and with the click of a button you can bounce around all over the world. — CD
Best virtual museum - Google hosts one of the best virtual museums in the world. They’ve scanned many thousands of the world’s masterpieces at super high resolution. So from my home I can visit their “Arts and Culture” site and by scrolling get very very close to the art — much closer than I could in a physical museum. I’ve seen many of the originals in their home museums, and I feel I was seeing them for the first time here. — KK
Virtual choirs.
Here's a collection from Camden Voices, this one"True Colors." There are more to hear and see on YouTube. When you need a little uplift.
All Human Beings Max Richter's" All Human Beings" -- link to official music video by Yulia Mahrhere. And for more on what inspired this piece from Brainpickings, another favorite subscription.
