I have been just ruminating over how so many subtle changes have profound effects. Couple of examples:

- No one send emails any more. I get very few emails from friends these days... largely because we are interacting either thru Facebook or twitter or texting. Writing an email seems pretty formal... but come to think of it... years ago I used to get a lot of letters in the mail...

- Whereas 7 or 8 years ago I was kind of branded a misfit for bike commuting, today people often engage me with their own commuting stories. Don't know exactly why this is so.

- My sons' generation seems impervious to needing a new car. Perhaps because wages are so young for people or they spend so much time interacting with #1

- This one amazes me. In Des Moines, almost every new bar is situated on a bike trail.


Do you see changes in your life that are having big side-effect?

Regarding the emails ...

I used to be a big letter writer ... long letters to many, many friends and family. And I'd send these off about every 2-3 months. I spent copious amounts of time writing letters.

Then along came email! Wonderful ... I can type one letter, and with some modifications, send it off to a whole variety of people. And that's what I still do.

I communicate through FB for the trivial stuff, but for the more in-depth stuff, I send emails. Lots and lots of long emails.

[HR][/HR]

Regarding commuting ... I've never been branded a misfit for commuting by a method other than by car. I've been commuting by a method other than by car since I started school at 6 years old ... it's just a normal, natural way to get to school or work.

Right now, however, I feel a bit bad that I don't cycle to work given that so many do and that there are such good bicycle storage facilities where I work.

Then why don't you cycle to work?

The bridge.

And I don't have a suitable bicycle here.

I've noticed that bicycling has become so common here that it's no longer even mentioned in passing. Ten years ago, when I showed up at social events carrying a bike helmet and panniers, I would be considered a bit eccentric, or maybe even slightly suspect. (Once I showed up to attend a charity auction for which I had paid $200, and when I arrived, the people at the front desk helpfully gave me directions to the wait staff staging area.) Now going out and about on a bicycle is so common in some parts of town that it's a challenge to find a decent place to lock up your bike. In fact, it's gone so mainstream that hipsters here no longer ride bicycles.

One such change might be in the area of cameras.

I've been fascinated with cameras since I got my hands on one when I was very young (maybe 8 years old?), but the cost of film and processing was a limiting factor for me.

The next step for me was when I had the option to "develop" my photos into a CD rather than actual prints. It cost less and opened up the possibility of photo processing and sharing.

And then I got a digital camera ... and I haven't looked back. If you've ever been to my Flickr account, you'll see what I mean. I've come close to wearing out two digital cameras already.


One of the best parts of that is that I can show my family where I'm seeing as I travel, and where I live ... in an instant!!

Given that I live all on the other side of the world from my family, these photos help keep us closer.

In days gone by, if a family member moved halfway around the world, at best they might exchange letters now and then. Now, through emails, social media, and photos, my widely scattered family and I keep up to date on a daily basis.

And when you do wear them out, I'll bet you'll consider not buying a camera and just going with your cell phone.

Not likely!

1. I don't have a mobile phone. I've never owned a mobile phone.
2. I don't like using phones of any sort.
3. I don't want to take a step backward in photography.
4. I already have a good quality DSLR ... if I were to move away from my little point-and-shoots, it would be in that direction.