The human condition

Why is it people feel the need to gather socially, and to feel part of something greater than themselves?

We went along to couple of humanist meetings. People who don't believe in a divine being and follow the course of reason and science. Yet they find themselves gathering on a Sunday, getting lectures and listening to music. Then they walk away until the next week. Yes they have removed the farce of meeting to worship some non-existent being yet, for some reason they follow the same ritual as those people.

I have no desire to make fake friends who are there for you as long as you regularly attend the gathering. But I would also like to meet like minded people for coffee or music or something that will actually become real friends, ones that you can chat with etc. whenever you feel like it.

It seems to me if you don't go to a Sunday gathering, don't do sports or go to bars etc then there isn't a place for you in this modern world. Social Media has further reduced our communication skills. People think that having friends on facebook means your popular, but it's meaningless unless you know them from face to face times. It's great for remaining in contact but isn't for creating contact, but I fear that is what it's becoming.

We are locked in our homes, isolated from each other and doomed to die alone, pointless really. All we can hope to do is find someone to enjoy the company of and pass the time until we are done. And of course hope find something to take your mind off the ticking time.

What's it all about?

This week we lost an amazing man, someone that when we were down we knew we could turn to, to cheer us up. Apparently nobody was able to do that for him. I heard someone call him a coward today and I wanted to yell at him. There is no cowardliness in suicide only hopelessness. To admit you have reached a point where nothing and no one can help you is just incredibly sad.

Where ever his energy is I hope he knows a billion tears were shed for him.

What's worse than being gay?

What's worse than being gay? Well apparently here in the United States it's being an atheist. Especially down here in the Deep South.

People don't choose to move to Texas, at least the non-conservative ones. It's a choice that's made for you, in my case it's being laid off and having to find work during this period of economic downturn. To say this is a shock to the system is an understatement. Friends warned us about the South and the Bible belt before we moved here. Unfortunately the choice was taken away from us since a single income family can't afford to not have an income coming in. 

So here we are, a couple who have traveled the world, are atheists, non-conservative and recent empty nesters. Add to that being Australian/Kiwi which means we speak our mind and it seems like a cocktail for disaster.

We came to the US for the first time in the 90's and loved it and always wanted to go back to living in San Diego. But unlike many we did it the right way with Visas etc. Luckily we won the green-card lottery which enabled us to move here permanently. Unfortunately the timing was shit and being in California and working for a small company proved a bad choice. 

So race forward to being laid off, getting hired and moving to Texas while our baby who's finishing college in San Diego and here we are a year and half later and wondering "what the fuck".

The people are nice here, conservative, religious and gun toting but nice. But just don't mention, gays, religion or politics and you'll be fine. But where does that leave us? In a state where we have a comfortable income, low taxes (thanks), no like minded friends (atheists, democratic and no kids) and no idea what the hell to do.  Which brings me back to the subject line, apparently gays are more accepted than atheists? WTF!!?!

Anyway this blog is about me dumping my brains contents so I can try and get some damn sleep!