We are living in our 300 square feet of motorhome. Somehow it feels bigger than the hotel rooms we were in. The outdoors is visible no matter where we face and we can walk out if we choose, so long as we keep our distance from others. Our 2 week quarantine is not much different from those around us who are living under the Stay Safer limits everyone in California faces. 

We went shopping on Wednesday morning before settling in. We found most of what we were looking for, even some paper goods. Then yesterday I got online and ordered almost everything else we needed. Even bought two 30 gallon propane tanks so we can return to using propane to heat. It’s a price thing! 

This morning I attended my first Zoom JCATS meeting. I expect we will gather at the usual time 3 times a week to discuss technical matters in the park and how to keep people’s television, internet and phones functioning without being able to go into their rigs at all. It could get interesting. 

I spoke to my Uncle Josh, in his 90’s in a new home. He seems to be getting on well. Followed up with a Zoom call later. Getting very tech these days. 

I just received the propane tanks, labeled them and took them up to the refill station. For my next venture out of doors I plan to take a walk avoiding getting within 6 feet of anybody. Then later today we may have a Zoom Happy Hour. I’m waiting for Carol to try  working with Zoom.  

Reality check, we are very social people and miss the company of others. Even when we are no longer quarantined we will still need to practice social distancing. It is really hard to converse with a group who are all so separated. I guess we will have to learn a new way of living. 

Pessimist here! I think that many of the changes we are making are long term if not permanent. I cannot imagine  a time when we will be able to get to Rochester or Charlottesville. Vaccine is a long way off and even treatment is strictly supportive care to relieve symptoms so far. This virus will not magically disappear. It is doing just fine in Panama where daytime temperatures are in the 90’s and it cools off to high 70’s, so the arrival of warm weather here will not stop it. Not to contradict the president of course.  Once it has run its course, many people will have acquired immunity, maybe, but the surviving elderly who successfully avoided it will not benefit from that supposed immunity.  We will remain vulnerable to grandkids and passing strangers. 

I need my mask and gloves, long term.

It hardly seems like SoCal with the temperatures in the low 50’s and rain squalls passing through. But it is early December and this is what we are experiencing in Jojoba Hills. By Monday we will be back into the 70’s and clear and sunny.

I only wish our country could pass from the dark and stormy period we are in to clear and sunny as easily. I find myself reading New York Times far more selectively than in the past. I listen to NPR with only half an ear, waiting for stories that do not relate directly to politicians, even a nasty story about Bishop resigning is a relief from the drumbeat of politics – not that it isn’t political but it is different. On social media I immediately skip over any threads and people who insist on pushing whatever side of current politics they favor. 

I am not indifferent, quite the opposite. I value balanced information. I really like facts. I welcome a healthy discussion of ideas with people who are open to considering alternative points of view. I can change my mind if presented with facts and ideas that suggest I consider alternatives. Too few people I talk with are willing to listen to open their minds. I fear I too must look like one of them because so much of what is presented to support the alternative is fact free, and  even contrary to fact . Or it starts with statements about the past and about people that are built around conspiracy theories. I disengage  in these circumstances.

Here in our park politics and religion are forbidden topics in our common spaces. It is helpful. When people who cannot seem to express a thought without bringing in current politics speak up, I remind them of our agreed upon restraints. This enables me to engage and work with people with whom I disagree.

Next morning, view of Palomar with our Jeep in foreground

We have been busy with seeing people and dining here and there, even going to see “Once Upon a Time . . . Hollywood” on film and watching Bathtubs Over Broadway on Netflix – do watch it. My head has been buried in politics and questions of Free Speech and “2nd Amendment” rights. I need to get some things off my chest so either close this post right now or come along for the ride.

I will not quote the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States here, it is readily available. I have never owned a handgun, rifle or shotgun and have no intention of doing so.  I do not oppose any one owning and using these weapons. I understand the pleasure of target shooting, I even get the desire to hunt. Some people need rifles or shot guns to protect themselves from wild animals or even to euthanize wild animals that are injured. All of these needs can be fulfilled with weapons that can fire at most 6 shots on a reload (I am basing that on the 6 shot revolver). I see no purpose in high capacity magazines, upwards of 200 rounds! other than engaging in a fire fight with similarly armed people or to commit mass murder. We must start  by banning the possession of  magazines greater than will fit within the body of the weapon. By that I mean anyone possessing such magazines will be first subjected to fines and then to imprisonment for subsequent offenses. Put this together with the bumpstock ban and we have a start. Background checks are nice, but don’t solve a thing nor do Red Flag laws. Bad guys with evil intent will find their way around those because there are already so many weapons in circulation. 

As an RVer who often boondocks and camps amid other RVers who I don’t know, my only safety concern is the paranoia of a fellow camper with a high powered weapon who fires it and misses leaving his missile to pass through the walls of my RV on its way to oblivion. My only weapon is a 380 horsepower diesel engine ready to start and be underway out of Dodge in minutes.

End of 2nd Amendment rant – for now.

Free Speech; I may have bitten off more than I realized, but here goes.

I am not looking into laws abridging freedom of religion or the press also significant aspects of the First amendment. “Congress shall make no law . . . or abridging the freedom of speech . . . ” This limits what Congress can do, not what private parties or states can do. Further many states (I have not researched this fully) have similar clauses in their constitutions. As I understand this there is no way under Federal law to ban or punish hate speech. Anyone can stand in the public square and proclaim whatever hateful ideology they choose so long as they to not incite violence. If they can find a publisher willing to print it, they can  have it printed and distributed by those willing to distribute it. Let’s give Facebook and YouTube and 8chan the benefit of the doubt that they are “the press” and thus are free to distribute what they choose in hate, porn, lies. They are also free to refuse to publish. We are free to refrain from supporting them by refusing to use their service. It does seem a stretch, but if several million people abstained from Facebook for a week they might take notice. 

I do not have any great hope that I will see the day when any of what I propose will actually happen. We are divided and afraid, we have been raised with hate for the “other” and when I note I am driving through El Paso I hear from friends and readers that it is dangerous because it is so close to Mexico. One not so small fact; the white folk invaded Mexico and carved out the state of Texas which had a substantial local population also New Mexico, California and Arizona. We are the invaders! 

I warned you.