It sounds like you’re a very people-oriented person, and that’s pretty cool. I’m not so sure that I’m as enthused as you are about the whole “the world is a village” mantra, but I do think that it’s awesome to reach out to people.

I think that it’s hard to be passionate in America actually. We live such a nice life that passion seems reserved for the special few. Although I guess that a lot of people are passionate about their work. But I’m not one of them, and I don’t think that’s something worth being passionate about!

I like things chatting and hanging out and exchanging ideas. Last year I began introducing myself to people I would see on my walks and that’s how I became friends with Younger and Older Dude. And from there met some of Younger Dude’s friends. I love the “the world is a village” feeling and would love to have people connect and support each other that way in their neighborhood. One of my dreams is to create that. So…it’s not bright and shiny and blood-rushing passion, more contentedness and joy. It feels simple to me. So maybe it’s my own definition of passion.

Yeah I guess it’s a good idea to keep track of finances, especially in times like these.

So Libertarian, huh? I guess after you mention it I can see it. I tend to be more Republican since I’m also pretty socially “conservative.” I’ve always found that term to be pretty interesting since it’s quite subjective as to what it refers to. What is conservative today could very well have been completely liberal just yesterday, right?

Learning that you need to work for everything is a great thing to know! I know that I think that’s way better than what happens all too often nowadays. That is, kids grow up thinking that everything is going to be handed to them because that’s how their childhoods were. A society of spoiled children is not going to be a pretty place.

Do you think that you’ve found your passion? I think that many people, if they really thought about it, would realize that there’s more to this life than what we simply see. In times like that, I can’t help but think and talk about the fact that I believe that to be the change after understanding Jesus Christ being crucified. Haha probably not exactly kosher (ha…ha love the pun?) for someone on a pretty public blog to say, but I’m all about speaking what I want. Still it’s completely a good point that money is all too controlling. Capitalism at its finest. It definitely has its faults.

I really like that you’ll go out to live that personal and touching life. How often do you think that you get to do things like reach out to those around you? What kinds of things do you do to do so? It sounds like you must have tons of great things to tell!

In the know about current events? Not really. Like most Americans, I am clueless about the politics and and current goings on in other countries and I barely follow politics as the US government is so large and layered that it’s like turning a battleship - it takes a while. Plus it has many checks and balances.

I’ve been slapped with the Libertarian label politically. Am I? I have no idea. I gather that’s the label attached to “fiscally conservative and socially liberal.”

What I do see is that the as much as everyone complains, we have more wealth and opportunities than ever and yet people are fat and unhappy. I mean, think about all the STUFF, the BASIC STUFF that most people have (shoes, clothes) that we couldn’t afford to have before. We’ve been able to mass produce stuff and make everything cheaper.

Hmmm…about my being intent on living my own life. I’ve always had enough when I growing up and generally felt pretty fortunate at least when it came to having a home. For some odd reason people think that I was raised with money and I wasn’t! My parents married young, my dad was still in college and the sole wage earner. Seeing that made me realize you have t work for things and when you work for something, you appreciate it.

I’ve also seen how money controls people or can be used to control others. It creates a lot of fear in some people. I would say that while I had some very generic goals (got to school, get a job, get married, etc. etc) as a child, I have always sensed that there was more to life than just following the road or the steps. I’ve always thought that there should be a purpose, an underlying passion to whatever we did. Which is why I took so long to finish school - I couldn’t figure out my passion! Or rather, was too scared to pursue it.

When it comes to following current events, I kinda feel a bit guilty but I remind myself that what I do in my life and how I treat people make more of a difference than following the news. Knowing that a friend is depressed or that a neighbor is out of town … those are immediate and where I can immediately make a difference.

However, I am surprised to know that you only look up the interest rate. I would have guessed that you’d be a little bit more “in the know” about current events. But it is cool that you are intent on living your own life! Is that something that has changed over the years or was it always like that for you?

Oh and by the way, I think that you meant “Going the Wong Way.”

I also don’t follow the news except to look up things like interest rates. Is my head in the sand? I dunno. I think that if it’s important, I’ll hear about it. I have my own life. I don’t need to borrow anyone else’s!

I completely sympathize with you. I, like you, always preach to my friends about this. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND why we neglect the important issues of the day because we would rather hear about what Paris Hilton was doing last night. I find it disturbing that the majority of Americans would prefer news about celebrities over the war in Iraq. I had someone ask me if John Kerry was running for office the other day! What is happening here!