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Having some thoughts as I sit here, trapped in the house by equal parts coronavirus and a layer of smoke drowning out the sun. The smoke is a bit of an annual thing; every year, some irresponsible jerk will go out and put their convenience and enjoyment over everyone else's quality of life.

It's a bit different this year since coronavirus has given people cabin fever. Those same people who lose their minds after weeks of isolation and suffering the indignity of wearing a mask headed out into the wilderness for recreation in record numbers.

The result is record wildfires.

Where I'm at, it's mostly coming from the eastern part of our state. The area is typified by being on the mountain range's dry side, more rural, less densely populated. Towns have burned, people lost their homes, millions of acres of land will likely burn before it's over. It happens every year; people pack up, head out into the wilderness, and cause devastation due to a simple lack of common sense or regard for the consequences of their actions.

On the west side, we see the fallout in the form of days without sunlight and abysmal air quality. We also see it in cost; we will unquestionably and without hesitation contribute to eastern recovery efforts. The western half of the state will cover almost all of the damage in both taxes and recovery aid. Our local ethos demands it.

The mountains form a kind of natural barrier, both cultural and environmental. The fact that few people cross the mountains by choice is symbolic of that divide. Those who enjoy greenery and lakes and thriving vibrant nature prefer the west, as we have them in abundance. People who have a strong appreciation for distance between themselves and other humans prefer the east, as it affords them cheaper land and few urban environments.

Here's to hoping people learn from this in 2021.

Comments
  • 5
    Don't count on that, never underestimate the selfishness of american individualism. No sense of community, only me me me even if it means the direct death of somebody else.

    America is doomed. Unless something changes in US social politics I think it is likely that there will be a second civil war or something similar. Especially when all moratoriums on evictions and the fiscal year ends and businesses have to close. Millions homeless and unemployed create the perfect petri dish for fascists and militias.

    Do you know the Podcast "It could happen here?" from war journalist Robert Evens? It's scary accurate how his predictions turned within a year into reality. https://open.spotify.com/show/...
  • 3
    @heyheni
    Not making it political. I've been working on UK citizenship for years, so I'm long past having confidence in anything.
  • 3
    @SortOfTested best of luck.
    I daily read in facebook groups about very sad and desperate stories of medical & student debt, working 3 jobs 70+ hours workweeks. And many have the wish to emigrate but with nowhere to go because to covid or lack the funds to do so.

    In one post a danish girl explained to americans she gets paid a $1000/m for studying, free Healthcare, 5 weeks of paid vacation, half a year maternity leave, unemployment benefits. The americans started to call her a liar as they couldn't believe that there is a life without u.s. capitalist hardship.

    And in my cities expat group the amount of americans asking on how to get a job in switzerland is growing by the day. And when they made it you can be sure there is the obligatory post whining that their 110v electric appliances doesn't work with the euro 230v.

    hmm 😔 hopefully you get that citicen ship. If not there are other places like Portugal which you can buy into.
    https://goldenvisas.com/portugal/
  • 2
    @heyheni
    I've pretty much bought into the UK on the innovator visa. Just have to let it simmer.
  • 1
    @heyheni since many devices use electronic transformators, its save to use them with 230V/50Hz since the Volts dont matter with these things.
  • 1
    @stop
    Yep. Pretty much everything except my hair dryer have auto switching power supplies.
  • 1
    @SortOfTested out of the frying pan and into the fire, if you'd ask me (obviously you didn't, but I'll throw in my 2 cents nonetheless, the a-hole that I am)..

    Why UK, out of all places? I mean I get it's easier for native English speakers than many other countries, but Brexit doesn't bode well from what I've heard. Many of my UK friends now look to move out of UK because of that.

    If you're set on UK, by all means, I suppose it's still an improvement, but I'm just curious of your reasoning for that particular choice..
  • 2
    @100110111
    I run a business there and scottish independence isn't unlike.
  • 0
    @SortOfTested two very good points.
  • 0
    @heyheni wouldn't it be good for USA to stop being United? It has too much of its very bad influence on the world.
  • 0
  • 0
    If you chose uk be prepared to sit in the pub or at home for half of the year as it will be raining there, especially in scotland.
    Portugal on the other hand or any south of europe near Mediterranean Sea or islands like malta, cyprus are great places with good weather for almost all of the year.
  • 0
    @100110111 Brexit is a tricky one. The reality is "no-one knows", and while there's a lot of people making a lot of fuss, very few are actually, realistically, going to leave the country.

    The sad thing is, if hardship does strike, it's going to be hitting the poor / vulnerable most. I mean, if the cost of food over here doubles then that'd be mighty inconvenient for me, sure - but realistically it'd just mean saving a bit less. For some people it genuinely can be the difference between getting by and going hungry.
  • 4
    Best of luck! Being an immigrant is tough.

    I'm glad I left the US to be honest. My country of origin is geographically close to the it, so every time the US president farts the economy took a hit, plus another bunch of issues. I miss my family but I can't see much future for me in either country.
  • 1
    @ars1
    As a serial expat, I'm well accustomed to keeping my head down in someone else's country. I definitely don't have any illusions that I have a place anywhere I am, so I feel you.

    Your immigrant story is def harder than mine though, I'm just buying my way out of the US. Hope you find a place to land you don't hate.
  • 2
    @SortOfTested I found it, thankfully. Its now a matter of the land not hating me.
  • 2
    @ars1
    I never found that in the US. Not counting on it anywhere else 🍻
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