"Nibblin’ on sponge cake
Watchin’ the sun bake
All of those tourists covered with oil
Strummin’ my six-string
On my front porch swing
Smell those shrimp they're beginnin to boil"
Thank you Jimmy Buffet, for creating this state of mind, this place that we can instantly slip to when we hear those first chords of Margaritaville.
It’s not so easy to slip to this place nowadays, is it? My observation is that we are, unfortunately, losing our “porch mentality” in America. I’m not here to figure out why, as it is all a combination of ridiculous McMansion planning + raising kids craziness + urban sprawl + artificial electronic social networks replace real neighborhood networks. Regardless of the reason, I’m writing here to urge you to try and get IT back.
So, what is the “it”? I’m calling it “porch mentality”, or as my parents and grand-parents did … “sitting on the stoop.” We just don’t do it (much) any more – taking the time that is.
Well, summer is certainly here in my part of the world. And last night after my wife and I put our kids down early, we poured a nice glass of Spanish red and hit our front porch. Yes, we are fortunate to have a covered front porch, nice size, partially shaded from the street to give just enough privacy, but not so much as you can’t see who is walking their dog and chat for a bit. It was so nice to hear the sounds of “nothing.” And I use quotes because there was so much to hear that otherwise goes unnoticed. The neighbor practicing violin, another neighbor practicing sax, compressors from window air-conditioners, the thunder storm rolling in, and 3 crows that were really pissed off at something.
Once in a while, and more often than you think you should, take the time to do nothing. Because, you are not really doing nothing. You are recharging your batteries, or reconnecting with your husband or wife. You are mentally sorting out the head trash that you can either forget about, or remember to put on your calendar for tomorrow.
So, watch the sun bake, sit on your front porch swing, and don’t forget about the shrimp
Watchin’ the sun bake
All of those tourists covered with oil
Strummin’ my six-string
On my front porch swing
Smell those shrimp they're beginnin to boil"
Thank you Jimmy Buffet, for creating this state of mind, this place that we can instantly slip to when we hear those first chords of Margaritaville.
It’s not so easy to slip to this place nowadays, is it? My observation is that we are, unfortunately, losing our “porch mentality” in America. I’m not here to figure out why, as it is all a combination of ridiculous McMansion planning + raising kids craziness + urban sprawl + artificial electronic social networks replace real neighborhood networks. Regardless of the reason, I’m writing here to urge you to try and get IT back.
So, what is the “it”? I’m calling it “porch mentality”, or as my parents and grand-parents did … “sitting on the stoop.” We just don’t do it (much) any more – taking the time that is.
Well, summer is certainly here in my part of the world. And last night after my wife and I put our kids down early, we poured a nice glass of Spanish red and hit our front porch. Yes, we are fortunate to have a covered front porch, nice size, partially shaded from the street to give just enough privacy, but not so much as you can’t see who is walking their dog and chat for a bit. It was so nice to hear the sounds of “nothing.” And I use quotes because there was so much to hear that otherwise goes unnoticed. The neighbor practicing violin, another neighbor practicing sax, compressors from window air-conditioners, the thunder storm rolling in, and 3 crows that were really pissed off at something.
Once in a while, and more often than you think you should, take the time to do nothing. Because, you are not really doing nothing. You are recharging your batteries, or reconnecting with your husband or wife. You are mentally sorting out the head trash that you can either forget about, or remember to put on your calendar for tomorrow.
So, watch the sun bake, sit on your front porch swing, and don’t forget about the shrimp
