Today, I start my 60th trip around the sun, and I’m planning on using the coming year for a ‘mini bucket-list check-down,’ and to escape much of the growing absurdity and insanity that is Internet and American politics.
Birthdays offer a time to reflect on the past year, and look ahead to the coming year. When you reach milestone birthdays, it becomes a good time to reflect on the past decade and and plan for the decade ahead.
I sit here today at 59, feeling beat – mentally, physically and emotionally drained. I’m extremely proud of so much that I’ve accomplished in my fifties – 10 years as an elected member of Byram’s governing body. Overwhelmingly reelected twice. Working diligently with our planner, attorney and two of my colleagues – against great odds – to make Byram, NJ the first municipality to achieve New Jersey Highlands conformance and the first to receive a Highlands Center designation. Fiercely led a coalition of seven municipalities and a dozen regional and national activists groups in a three year battle against a massive and unnecessary powerline project. Assisted my incredible friend Andrea Proctor in bringing school tours back to Byram’s historic Waterloo Village, teaching thousands of children the important history of the area’s past. And just last year completed a major Sustainable Economic Development Plan for the Township.
On the negative side, I’ve struggled financially to just ‘get by’ as a self-employed designer, through the second-worst economic crisis in our nation’s history. Fought a greedy, rudderless and dysfunctional environmental community thru eight years of their ineptitude under one of the worst Governors NJ has ever seen for environmental protections. And for the last four years, dealt with the groundswell of anger and ignorance among the public that, not surprisingly to me at least, culminated in the tragic results of last November’s election and continues to threaten the civility of our democracy. Ugh.
The energy and effort expended over last decade for both the good and the bad, however, has taken a toll on me in a way that cannot be sustained during the next decade. I’ve got some big plans and a growing bucket-list that I’m going to address in my 60’s. Something’s gotta give.
So starting today, on this 60th orbit of the sun, I’m taking some advice (See ‘Self Care in the Age of Trump‘) from a wonderful Twitter friend, Kristin Wald and doing the following to prepare for the tasks ahead:
- Dropping off of Twitter for the year. “Hi, I’m Scott and I’m a Twitterholic.” This is going to be tough, but necessary. There’s something addicting about Twitter as social media and the ability to communicate directly in bursts of thought with like-minded and well-known activists. It’s a community to me, I’ve made some incredible friends and I will miss it, but damn, there are days it sets my blood pressure through the ceiling!
- Saying ‘Eff-Off’ to the clowns that call themselves leaders of the NJ environmental community. This will be much easier! The issue of the “Highlands Mist” that this post appears in will be the last issue for the next year. (I’ll drop a more detailed note to the listserve over the weekend.) I feel like I’ve given and given to make this a better planet for all of us to live on, and I’m beating my head on my desk while being stabbed in the back by faux enviros. In the last five years I’ve lost two very dear friends, Ella Filippone and Peggy Snyder, both pillars of support to me in many challenging situations. Life’s too short, people. And I just can’t give any more until I take care of my self. A year’s rest and a fresh outlook and I’ll be ready to kick some asses properly. Count on it.
- I plan to continue concentrating on a few things that help me relax and grow. I will continue posting positive, personal interests – gardening, the outdoors and cooking – on my Instagram account and want to work on some deep, long reads for this blog. So follow me here and on Instagram if you want to see what I’m up to.
The hiatus starts now. It’s just after midnight on March 9, and if you want to know what I’ll be doing in a few hours when I wake up, it will be my annual tradition: just go here and start playing Cannonball Adderly’s classic jazz album Somethin’ Else (recorded exactly 59 years ago today at Rudy Van Gelder Studios in Hackensack, NJ). Then make a big pot of coffee, some pancakes (with a side of bacon!) and lose yourself in the music.
Later, friends!