Author Archives: Trish

Unintentional Hermit Chuck Noland

May 19, 2009

Actor Tom Hanks created a truly Memorable Hermit  in the 2000 motion picture Cast Away. Hanks’ character, Fed-Ex manager Chuck Noland, is the only survivor of a plane crash and is forced to survive alone on a desert island for four years. His transition from a portly, time-obsessed urbanite to a tan, bearded, slightly-emaciated athlete is dramatically presented in one scene change. (A one-year hiatus during filmmaking gave Tom Hanks the time to lose 55 pounds.) The film tracks Noland’s acquisition of survival skills as well as his return home after four years alone.

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The film is food for thought on many levels. Noland is clearly a different man after his four years of solitude.  The life he left behind has also changed – people have moved on without him, including the love of his life.

Naturally, I was most fascinated with the challenges Noland faced while on the island. Contemplating how you would fair facing similar circumstances is part of the movie’s fun. The daily challenge of survival at a subsistence level is a lot different than choosing a comfortable level of solitude with access to modern amenities.

Would you (as Chuck Noland does) anthropomorphize a volleyball for someone to talk with?  How long would it take before you decided to risk all and leave the relative, though uncomfortable, safety of the island to challenge the sea on a rickety raft?

Personally, if there was any other life on the island (birds, rodents, or even non-toxic reptiles), I’d like to think I’d try for a relationship with one of them over talking to an inanimate object.  On the other hand, you don’t want to ultimately face having to eat a creature you’ve befriended – no protein in a volleyball.

As much as I treasure solitude, surviving at a subsistence level holds little appeal for me. It would be a laborious challenge alone – not a game like we see on television’s Survivor and Lost which were both developed after Cast Away’s success.

Although I can find genuine contentment in relative simplicity, and I’m fairly certain I could do well without much human interaction, trying to survive without books might launch my raft off the island – a library or die.

Posted in Hermits, Most Memorable Hermits, Movies, Psychology, Reading, Solitude, Television | Tagged , , , , , | Comments off

“Climate Is What We Expect, Weather Is What We Get”

May 5, 2009

That’s one of my favorite Mark Twain quotes.

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A friend recently suggested I may be a bit too obsessed with the weather. I won’t deny it. In fact, I’ll readily admit I am a lot obsessed with the weather. I’m one of those people who susbcribes to a personal weather forecast for my lat/long. I regularly check for impending showers on the Doppler radar.

My friend’s suggestion did set me to contemplating why I’m a weather addict though.  I believe there are several reasons:

1. I live (and have lived most of my life) in meteorologically dynamic Western Washington. This area is a weatherman’s dream or nightmare. Big forces (Pacific Ocean, continental shape) combine with smaller, more immediate, geographical forces (Cascade & Olympic Mountains; Strait of Juan de Fuca & Puget Sound) creating weather systems which are channeled in infinitely variable scenarios over the dramatic geography.  Even in spring and summer, stable air masses are short lived. The layered look in outdoor apparel may have been invented here – if you are an outdoor person, you need to be prepared for almost any weather, almost every day.

2. I crewed, lived aboard and cruised on small sailboats for about 20 years - primarily between Puget Sound and Alaska. Take this area’s dynamic weather, add a small boat on the large sea, and you up the ante on your weather obsession. Although I did crew on a couple of sailboats where the standard policy was “no-matter-what-the-weather,” I tried to avoid that Deadliest Catch weather whenever possible. You avoid deadly weather by giving yourself a flexible schedule, educating yourself and by staying in tune – not just listening to forecasts, though they become elemental; but also watching the clouds, sea conditions and barometric pressure. I believe weather awareness becomes innate to most long-time boaters – on sailboats it’s even more critical. Wind is your primary propulsion – to use it, you have to be out in it. Watching the weather becomes integral and habitual – a hard habit to kick.

3. And now – though Griz and I have a perfectly comfortable house and a large heated shop – we live in the forest. It is a rare day when we are not outside for projects or pure pleasure. Weather continues to be integral to our lives. Keeping an eye on the forecasts and the Doppler radar allows me to take best advantage of the day. I admit, weather is rarely as critical now as it was when we were living aboard. We hardly notice some big storms that set people talking – after all, how big can a storm be if it doesn’t move your home. But there are some weather risks associated with living among tall trees. We expect periodic power outages and it really isn’t very wise to go for a casual walk in a big wind. You also have to be cautious in moderate wind – one reason old evergreens get so old – they shed unnecessary branches to reduce their sail area for the big storms. Big limbs can be just as deadly as a whole tree if you aren’t alert. Unless it’s very calm out, I leave the iPod behind on longer walks. Listening for that distinctive crack (or unexpected rustle) is just part of being forest smart.

4. And the most recent development in my weather obsession comes from many years of a life outdoors and many years of life in general. Mid-life brings with it little reminders of every injury and repetitive stress in your history. Many of those little reminders seem accentuated by weather change. My body’s more sensitive to voluntary abuse than when I was younger:  I’m more uncomfortable in (and resist tackling the hardest jobs in) extreme heat or cold. Fortunately, I can still do most things I did when younger – but my body makes more noise in the process and with some activities, it’s wise to pace myself. Keeping an eye on the weather allows me to set that pace or if necessary, take a day off.  Wisdom of us ancients: “Nothing wrong with a snow day – even in the middle of summer.”

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Hermit Psychology: Introverts Spinning Donuts In the Cave

April 29, 2009

It’s a fair assumption that most intentional hermits are introverts – like Griz and me. There may be a few extrovert hermits about, but they are likely unintentional hermits – living in solitude by accident or sacrificial choice – hiding from the law, castaways on uncharted islands, last-man-on-earth characters like Will Smith in I Am Legend.

Introverts as a whole (not just hermits) are considered a bit odd by many people, though introversion and extroversion have equitable and complementary benefits.  Introverts are a minority though - making up only 25 to 30 percent of the population. The consolation is this: the ratio gradually switches as IQ’s rise – introverts make up 70 to 75% of individuals with IQ’s in 160+ range.

Sigmund Freud’s the guy to blame for declaring introversion a negative pathology. He considered introverts sexually-repressed narcissists who prefer their internal fantasies to real-world engagement. Unfortunately, Freud’s opinion tends to echo on even though Carl Jung improved the introvert image and removed the sexual element altogether in his theories of psychological types.

The primary difference between extroverts and introverts is this: extroverts are motivated and energized by external events and interactive creativity (highly-social) - introverts are motivated and energized by ideas and internal creativity (not-so-social). A very well-done, more exhaustive discussion of the differences is available here. Most of the world’s great leaders have been extroverts. Most Einsteinesque “fathers-of-invention” have been introverts.

Recent neuroscience research on brain activity (using PET scans) indicates introverts and extroverts actually use their brain architectures differently. Extrovert brain activity tends to be most active in the sensory processing regions of the brain. Introvert brain activity is more focused in the frontal lobes. This supports the external manifestations: extroverts seek a lot of stimulation and sensory input; introverts tend to take a little input and run with it internally – pondering things and getting their jollies from recontextualizing and reformulating. Hence, the contemplative hermit spirit.

Of course in reality, very few of us are absolute introverts or absolute extroverts. Most of us fall somewhere along the continuum. And even if our brains are working one way or the other, the external expression of our socialness (or lack thereof) may change at times over our lifetime as circumstances and needs evolve.

Even living as a hermit is as much about opportunity as it is about desire or inclination. For most people in today’s society, the hermit lifestyle tends to be a choice of mid-life and beyond:  after education and the primacy of income development; and (unless celibate) after mate-seeking and child-rearing – all fairly social activities no matter how you’re using your brain.

Introversion is no better or worse than extroversion – it’s just a different expression of the same humanity. The world is a better place because our differences work in concert. Even if it was a brilliant, pondering introvert who invented the wheel, if it weren’t for a few extroverts seeking the thrill ride of using it to get from there to here, humanity may have died young, contentedly spinning donuts in the cave.

Posted in Family, Hermit's Rants, Hermits, Philosophy, Psychology, Science, Solitude | Tagged , , , , | Comments off

Smokey In Smokey’s Space

April 24, 2009

A young black bear was captured this morning about a mile south of us on the median of I-5. bearcaughtI’m sure he was just trying to establish his own territory which he’ll soon find somewhere else – compliments of WSDOT and State Wildlife agents.

Something that didn’t come out in the news story: the patch of woods where the bear was hanging also serves as a blind for radar traps frequently set up by the Washington State Patrol.  This is one of the few wide-open spaces left on I-5 through Western Washington – the speed limit is still 70 mph, which means many people are pressing 80 mph or more on their way through.  It’s the second highest spot in the state for number of speeding citations issued.

Gotta think the troopers were not happy to be sharing space with this particular youngster. Apparently, the bear was comfortable enough around traffic that it was visible to motorists part of the time, creating a risky distraction and slowing people down.  Woops, there goes those tickets.

But the bear’s lucky he wandered onto the interstate median rather than into a local suburban neighborhood which always seems to cause panic.  On the median, the bear was in more danger than any humans, especially with the cars moving so fast.  And the humans most at risk (the State Troopers) were unlikely to panic – they were all packin‘ and hyper-connected to emergency services.

Photo KOMONews.com

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Personal Balance: Serendipity of a Tall Sunset

April 15, 2009

We rarely get a sunset tall enough to splash color above our 60-year old evergreens.  Conditions have to be just right – a very red sunset and clearing to the west with high clouds lingering overhead here to provide a reflective canvas.  One of nature’s perfect moments of fleeting artistry.

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Living in nature can be demanding at times but the rewards are abundant. Staying spontaneous enough to stop all else and relish such serendipity promotes my sense of  personal balance. (Photos are icing.)

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Meditation on the Rocks

April 12, 2009

I have always loved rocks – not gemstones,  just rocks. I took geology in college so I know the basics, but my love of rocks is more esoteric and artistic than scientific. On walks, I collect what catches my eye, for color, shape or imagined story. 

We live on a slope of soil over glacial till – an endless supply of  rocks. More rocks surface each year through erosion, gentle flow or slump.  I’m a subtle collector -  a rock or two a month, but I wind up with rock piles over time.  I made myself an Easter basket today - rocks over moss: 

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Why do I do this? It’s one of those harmless “you-like-what-you-like” behaviors – analysis may diminish the experience.  But here are the keyword themes motivating my rock love:  beauty, creation, endurance, eternity, stillness.

To spare you from boredom, future rock blogging will always have the word “rock” in the title.  Even I’m often surprised at how easily I can be entertained.

 

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IONS’ Worldview Literacy: Understanding Each Other’s Beliefs

April 12, 2009

I am not a religious person, though I often find myself in appreciative awe of the positive emotional energy behind some of my friends’ assorted “holy days.”  It doesn’t surprise me that holidays from different religions often overlap or coincide.

I think the greatest spiritual teachers all emphasize finding our commonalities rather than judging our differences. We find our commonalities by educating ourselves and our children, and by communicating with each other. We do not find commonalities by pointing fingers, arguing over who’s privy to historical truth, and warring over who’s right and who’s wrong.

I’m particularly impressed with The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) educational program, Worldview Literacy:  

Worldview literacy helps people to recognize that beliefs are embedded within personal and cultural frames of reference, that other people hold different worldviews, and there are skills and capacities that can be cultivated to deal with the complexities of divergent worldviews. Such skills, including critical thinking, self-reflection, emotional and social intelligence, cultural appreciation, and non-violent communication, offer young people powerful new tools that are good for them and good for the world.

Our worldviews or models of reality are often unconscious. They can be brought to awareness through reading or discussion, but it is more effective to personally encounter situations that highlight those assumptions. Just as travel in exotic lands can open our eyes to new points of view, this project provides worldview scenarios that teach through experience and focused encounters with other kids and their life experiences.

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More than ever, we live in a global community - providing children with the power of a global perspective is a huge step toward a community without the horrors of war.

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A Peculiar Being Reacts to Dating Hysteria

April 5, 2009

I came across this poem in my archives the other day, so in honor of Poetry Month (and a quick post):

In haphazard desperation
This continued search for love
Skirts simplicity for complication.
Unheralded and quiet truth – above
All rewards those cherished others may impart,
Award yourself your loving heart.
Invaluable, illusive art,
But valid joy’s innate foundation,
Seed for all capacity to love
 Without imposed condition.

It may not be the best poetry, but it’s an interesting retrospective for me.  Could be interpreted as narcissistic I suppose, but the value of self-esteem was my goal.

I was a college freshman when I wrote it. It was not part of a class assignment; just word therapy, a journal entry, commentary on what I perceived as the social chaos of my college dorm (all women).

I was aghast at the amount of energy my housemates seemed to perpetually invest in finding, talking about, preparing for and recovering from “dates.” The emotional melodrama seemed relentless. Someone was always ebullient over a new boyfriend or crying over a break-up. To me, it felt like a highly-valued and accepted bedlam of dating hysteria.

And most of it just seemed silly. Yes, I dated, but I don’t think I ever approached it with the enthusiasm and focus that seemed to motivate many of my college housemates.  For me, the importance of finding a mate was secondary,  not primary – an enhancement to life certainly, but not life itself.  It’s probably remarkable I wound up in a partnership at all.

Group living never did work very well for me. I was probably a hermit in search of solitude even then – a peculiar being from the start.

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Umbrage, Part 2: "There Are No Happy Psychologists," Declared the Happy Hermit (Though It Didn’t Really Matter)

March 29, 2009

Yes, I’m just trying to be provocative and I presume that is also Professor Christopher Peterson’s intent when he uses the phrase “there are no happy hermits” in his U. Michigan psychology lectures. But I’m quite certain I’m not the only happy hermit in the world, so I’ve decided to come to the defense of happy hermits everywhere (wherever you may be).

Dr. Peterson’s specialty, positive psychology, sounds great to me. It’s geared toward promoting what’s right with us rather than just trying to fix what’s wrong with us. I also realize Dr. Peterson’s “no happy hermits” statement is addressing the psychological dangers of social isolation – a valid point. But isolating and choosing solitude (temporarily or for longer periods) are two different behaviors and I think Psychologist Beth Waddell does a fair job of addressing those differences in her responsive post here.

Now, on to the happy hermit’s take:

First off, saying “There are no happy hermits” is about as scientifically valid as saying “There are no happy sasquatches.”  Those illusive sasquatches (if they exist) are not making themselves available for research – but neither are us happy hermits. Not many hermits (happy or otherwise) seek psychological counseling – the happy ones are even less likely to do so.

Hermits (like sasquatches) are also unlikely to aggregate in quantifiable numbers near universities, so valid hermit research becomes even more problematic. I have no doubt one could recruit a few rugged grad students to scour the hills for rumors of hermitages. But even if the grad students find the hermits – how happy do you think the hermits will be about it? (See my post on curmudgeonly misanthropes here). I assure you even the happiest hermit can put on an unhappy face in defense of his privacy.

But perhaps my greatest caution to Dr. Peterson is this:

When I say “There are no happy psychologists,” it doesn’t really matter. I am neither a psychologist nor a scholar. I’m just some north woods blogger with not much of a following.

But Dr. Peterson is by definition an expert.  Though it appears he is not an expert on hermits, he is considered somewhat of an expert on happiness. People are listening to Dr. Peterson and his words are contributing mightily to this ongoing bad hermit press.

C’mon, Dr. Peterson, at least temper the statement to: ”There aren’t many happy hermits.” It rolls off the lips with only one extra syllable and its statistical validity is guaranteed by the fact that there really aren’t that many hermits period.

Some hermits are happy, some probably are not. Most of us hermits find solitude more revitalizing than socializing. In solitude, we find clarity. Clarity is a good thing. For hermits, so is solitude.

Disclaimers: In the dim past of my youth, I seriously considered a counseling career and directed my education accordingly, though I ultimately chose sailing over grad school. I have personally used the services of two very good psychologists to help me through a couple of life’s inevitable rough patches – once while I was living in relative solitude, once while I was not living in solitude at all. I would not hesitate to seek psychological assistance again should I feel the need.

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Memorable Hermit Sin Killer: Pragmatic Self Sufficiency Meets Clueless Self Indulgence

March 22, 2009

I always have great empathy for natural reclusives who find themselves stranded outside their comfort zone and Larry McMurty’s  Sin Killer (2002) is a perfect example.  Trapper/Indian-fighter Jim Snow sinkiller(nicknamed Sin Killer) relinquishes his solitude in the first of Larry McMurtry’s tetrology, the Berrybender Narratives; but Jim would have (and probably should have) kept to himself had his youthful lust and fire-and-brimstrone religious guilt not combined to drive him into marriage with Tasmin Berrybender. Tasmin is an English noblewoman traveling with her absurdly wealthy, self-indulgent family through America’s West in the mid-19th century.  The sometimes-flammable culture shock these lovers endure continues through all four books of  McMurtry’s tetrology.

Jim Snow makes it to the Memorable Hermits list for tenacity alone. You just know trouble is brewing when Snow’s first words to his future bride are ”You talk too much.” He does his best to warm to the “civilized” family he marries into, but Tasmin is continually burdened with Snow’s inclination to just walk away when the spirit strikes or the noise overwhelms him.  He rarely feels obligated to discuss his plans or forewarn her of these departures.  I think many hermits are prone to this type of spontaneous desertion. It’s a self-preservation maneuver symptomatic of waiting too long before escaping the social tumult.

Lonesome Dove fans or anyone in the mood for a good dose of escapist fiction, should read the Berrybender Narratives.  (McMurtry claims they are the end of his fictional sojourns into 19th century America.) The other three books in the series are: By Sorrow’s River (2003), The Wandering Hill (2003) and Folly & Glory (2004).

As always, McMurtry’s multiple points of view create an engrossing portrait of an unforgiving, brutal wilderness where multiple factions and cultures battle for survival. McMurtry’s bawdy humor and social commentary soften the saga capturing the reader’s empathy for a multitude of fascinating characters, some of them fictionalized versions of historical figures.

Pragmatic self-sufficiency meets clueless self-indulgence in an untamed wilderness makes for a good yarn.

Huh? Maybe the books aren’t as escapist as I remember - I think I’ve  been watching a sequel on the news lately.

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