I’m now using LibreOffice with NextCloud for my note-taking. My old OneNote got full. This seems like an easy, full-featured solution. So far seems far better than OneNote!

Faster, unlimited storage. More and better commands. More useful interface. More rights. More attractive. More adaptable.

Will I have the courage to start the process of going next week?! I'm seriously considering it!

What if I go? Would probably work out fine. I’m somewhat concerned about the local situation, with political problems. Also the rain, and feeling a bit under the weather. I think those considerations are all (gradually) ceasing to be issues.

I’m actually leaning towards going! I think this is the first time since getting stuck here in Capesterre that I’ve felt serious about going. I’m still a little under the weather, there are still protests/laws/etc., I’m still feeling somewhat comfortable. Yet, I think I’d rather have some new adventures! :)

Looking at the map, Marie-Galante looks like fun! :)

To start a new journey!

Doesn’t even feel real! After such a huge amount of time, relatively speaking, stuck in Capesterre!

If I were starting from scratch, would I choose to go? You betcha! :)

In life, I feel like you can select many different paths. Maybe we don’t have complete freedom. But we sure do have considerable leeway. Often it’s just a matter of taking that gamble! :)

Somewhat foolishly! :)

I already am starting to feel somewhat free again. Although I know that there are some potential gotchas, like with the border situation still being somewhat screwed by COVID BS.

I think if I stay, I’d just wind up doing more of this asking myself. I think it’s safe enough to go! :)

I’ve been feeling like stuck guy. Now I feel like I can unstick myself! :)

For a while I’ve felt constrained to Capesterre by various internal and external considerations. While many of them remain to some extent, I now think that the serious obstacles are gone. Emotionally and logistically a few hurdles remain, but I think they’re fairly surmountable.

Having a bit of a mind-searching sesh. :)

I think it’s about time to take a shot! :)

I think I can handle a few things going wrong again. I don’t think I’m in that precarious situation, e.g. waiting on bank cards, no ferry out, sick, rained in, coup d’etat, state of emergency, etc. :)

I don’t think there’s a serious enough reason to stay! I think there are serious reasons to go! I can hardly believe it!!!!! :)

I think the main remaining issue is the Dominica situation. Still iffy entry requirements. Not entirely sure I want to risk that yet. I may be fine spending a while on Marie-Galante instead of Capesterre, however.

I think I’m far better off seeing new things instead of seeing the same things each day. I think that justifies the risk of getting stuck in Marie-Galante.

COVID: catastrophic failure of civilization over a cough.

Take a shot!!!!! :)

I’m willing to risk getting stuck for a short while in Marie-Galante for the opportunity to see tons of new things and make headway towards Dominica plus!!!!!

Tons of ground to cover in Marie-Galante, I’d probably WANT that time stuck there anyways, instead of more of the same.

Just go baby!!!!! :)

I think next week should be enough time to make some plans and preps, maybe recover a bit more from illness, then go!!!!! :)

Feels like a beautiful fresh start! I’m excited!!!!! :)

I don’t even care too much what they have on Marie-Galante, I just wanna go!!!!! :)

I’m sure it’ll be nice enough!

I feel like I’m starting not just another ride, but the next stage of my life!!!!! :)

Maybe even go a week before the end of January if I can!

They’re all just a bunch of places, but it’s more fun to see fresh new places & faces! :)

I’m now in operational mode. Moved from strategy to tactics to specific actions towards leaving!

Not enough time to pack things away!!!!! :)

I’d go right now if I didn’t have to book a place and a ferry, deal with the apartment here, etc.!

I already feel like I’m back in travel mode! Love it!!!!! :)

I feel more prepped than before for riding… Maybe over-prepped! :)

Barring any severe overrides, I’m going to Marie-Galante in January. Then will deal with whatever comes up.

If blue cheese salad dressing is a thing, shouldn't goat cheese salad dressing be a thing, too? Just sayin'…

Purge the COVID politicians!

How’d we let those cruddy politicians shut down society over COVID? We need to prevent that!

How does anyone manage to stay in one place?!?!

I’m feeling even logistically and emotionally ready enough, which were two obstacles for a while. A bit of packing to do, then go!

What’s left to do? Reservation on Marie-Galante, ferry ticket, announce leaving this place, last party with friends, pack, ride! :)

Straightforward!

Emotionally I have to go ASAP!!!!! :)

As annoying as the COVID BS is, we can at least remind ourselves of our relatively fortunate situations. Annoyances do happen, it’s important I think to maintain balance and carry forth anyways.

I feel a million times better with an action plan to go!!!!! :)

Trust observations over reports. Actions before words.

I feel me again, traveling!!!!! :)

Let your frustrations and annoyances drive you to productive activities!!!!! :)

Drink coffee!!!!! :)

Make the key moves, then adjust! Instead of planning each detail out.

I feel ready and a half to go! :)

I think that getting back on the road's going to be not so much a resumption of my previous life as a continuation of my present life and the start of a new life! :)

I think the main remaining obstacle that I'm dealing with in going to Dominica is the entry requirements. From what I've seen it looks like they still leave open the possibility of arbitrary detention for testing positive on the BS COVID. I don't think it's that likely given that there'd be a test beforehand from what I understand. Still, seems like an unreasonable barrier to entry.

That doesn't necessarily interfere with going to Marie-Galante, so I may go there early in the new year anyways.

(Early in the new year, the situation seems the same. I'm still considering going to M-G soon.)

I think I'll feel like going from a secondary character as a guest in this place to a principal character in the adventure of my own life!

I think I'll be better off using my precious scarce time traveling than lying around here!

I've developed in some ways while here. Maybe more mature? :) More willing to drink alcohol again? :) Maybe more focused on my longer-term goals?

I'm feeling more like going in January!

Weather's turning better (not wetter). Running out of things to do. Hungry for adventure! :)

I have a month or so that I'm probably committing to spend in Marie-Galante anyways, since I suspect the vaccines will remain practically necessary for travel and that's around how long they take. So any worries over difficulties finding or renting a place for a month there are a sunk cost not to worry about any further! :)

I'd rather explore a new island than sit around here thinking! So I'm planning to go in January unless there are serious issues like violence, as previously noted.

(As of now there's still violence, lockdowns, weather, illness.)

Part of me's wanted to go for a long time. Now I'm starting to feel that it will actually make sense to go soon.

Adventure: for when you're ready for a few things to go wrong! :)

A funny yet scientifically accurate way to see people, including our thoughts, behaviors, genes, and even deeper parts: copies with modifications.

Where do people from the Caribbean go to leave behind all of their troubles? The U.S.? :)

Someone should invent a cleaning product that's safe for your eyes. Then instead of all those warnings about not getting the product in your eyes and what to do if you do get the product in your eyes, you could just happily rub it all over your face including in your eyes. Like soothing eye drops and face wash/body wash in one.

The clouds are like a powerful narcotic drug. They make you sleepy, somewhat hallucinatory. A bit like opium.

Playing those phone games where you line up gems is like picking all the fresh fruit you want. And looking at internet porn is like having all the fresh young partners you want. In our modern world you actually can have tons of fresh fruit and partners, outside of the screen, but the screen costs less and is easier so it's far more prevalent.

Just moved years' worth of photos and videos from my phone to my computer and my new personal cloud! :)

I like it here, in Capesterre! :)

After all the annoyances and frustrations in getting "stuck" here during the Coronavirus, it still feels like it'll be difficult to leave, waaaay later than I'd expected to leave!

I guess it makes sense to think in terms of the future, the other places to see!

A surprisingly productive year, given that I didn't go anywhere! :)

Story idea: alternative history in which humans didn't undergo the agricultural revolution, but did nonetheless undergo the industrial and digital revolutions. Instead of having cities with massive automatic farms and factories as we do now, people have developed an advanced nomadic lifestyle in which they hyper-efficiently hunt food and pick fruit.

I guess they'd have to automatically repopulate the food species, making it somewhat like mobile farming, or they'd run out of game. Or they could switch to more plentiful species, e.g. using their efficient technology to hunt rodents or insects. Then they'd also probably want to use some technology to make the animals tastier.

Feels weird to be maybe I think transitioning back to my travel life.

I'm now in agreement with my previous/latest plans, are they stabilizing? I'm aiming to go in probably one of the six-seven weeks from mid-January to late February. Still tons of adaptability due to the unpredictable COVID situation.

I think that the things holding me back here include comfort, convenience, and the social scene. I think that it's worth pushing myself to go out of my way soon to get back on the road.

The ferries are running, kind of sort of. The borders are open, kind of sort of.

Probably said a bunch of times already by me and others, but often things don't go according to plan. Make THAT the plan, to adjust to surprises.

Things can change dramatically over time, even if things seem almost at a standstill at some specific moments. Gradual progress! :)

An exciting year's coming! :) Hopefully this Coronavirus mess clears up! Back to travels!!!!! :)

"Did you say 'the clock's ticking' or 'the cock's tickling'?"

Doing some equipment repairs has me wanting to get back on the road!!!!! :)

I don't wanna take off my backpack!!!!! :)

Shouldn't beheading be called bebodying?

Tons of motivation to travel again! Plus there are hidden advantages to unlock when you start. Also, hidden costs to staying.

You know it's a good new year's eve when you have no idea where the fuck things in your place came from or why the doors are wide open when you get home the next day, and you have a new worldview, and you feel horny.

Yay! I'm now leaving! :)

We'll see how it works out in practice, but I'm now thinking of myself as actively in the process of leaving town. This week I'm aiming to see the state of things with barricades, protests, couvre-feus, etc. Then maybe a week or two after that, if the coast looks clear, take a shot at Marie Galante!!!!! :)

In that period I think I can run through my remaining disposable belongings here, then hit the road with as little as possible!

Maybe I found my home, or "lakay m" :) Only to then leave it…

In my opinion, and that of at least a few other people, take risks on what you care for! Go for your goals!

I feel like I'm starting a new life! :)

I've been in the Caribbean so long that white people now look foreign to me. :)

Sitting here at the writer's desk, at the dawn of a new year. Excited to go touring again!!!!! :)

This year I'm working to be generally more confident, optimistic, giving, and sociable.

Feels surreal to think of or plan touring again. Like I've become a different person. Again.

There's a moderately heavy burden in starting off touring (again), but I think it's easily worth it for the freedom travel!

COVID politics has to be one of the stupider mess-ups that people have made in a while!

Humans are "just" flow systems, and sometimes the systems are off-balance and need to rebalance, and often we do better to have some degree of imbalance.

Looks like more COVID BS issues in the new year. Protesters have taken over the government's main offices, with more barricades and arrests. I somewhat agree with the protesters, but it makes it more difficult to travel!

Guess I'm gonna see how things unfold locally over at least a few more weeks. At least I don't have to feel bad about not feeling ready to leave yet anyways.

Still hungover from New Year's. :)

Not leaving until at least the weekend of January 22, anyways.

I think that international political institutions, including notably in France and Guadeloupe where I've seen things up close, have lost much of their legitimacy through the imposition of excessive controls over COVID.

More travel options are opening up with Guadeloupe! Looks like it's becoming more feasible to travel.

I'm still hungover/sick from New Year's and the subsequent days. Maybe a few more weeks of things clearing up?!

Also blocking a port and road traffic, so some more hurdles remain.

Starting the new year hungover/sick, with crazy coup-type events, and rainy weather, doesn't seem like the ideal occasion to start bike touring again. A few days later, with the sun out, starting to recover, seeing an occasion as maybe available soon!

Not sure if I should bother with these frequent assessments of the situation. Last year or whenever I considered going, the COVID problem dragged on for quite a while. At least I can keep tabs on my feelings about going.

It's turning into a one-year later version of last year!

(Hopefully with a different exit!)

I'm now aiming to leave in the January to April range, preferably the earlier part of that but with flex for the highly unpredictable situation. There's still also a chance that it won't be in this range, e.g. if there are more serious COVID fascism issues.

Somewhat comforting at least to have a window when I plan to leave, instead of only a vague desire to go. Even if things don't work out exactly according to plan. :)

It's difficult yet I think useful to ready oneself to leave, even a comfortable situation.

I'm feeling like an emotional mess again. In part due to the weather, my personality, life events. Also due to the stresses and uncertainty around leaving, and the local chaotic situation.

If you're middle aged, you're young compared to being old. :)

I think I'm over the hump, recovery-wise. Still feeling slightly ill, but on the mend.

Looks like they have a "state of emergency" with couvre-feu at 8 PM! This is insane, someone remove the politicians!

I'm thinking of going soonish anyways. Spend a few weeks or so on Marie-Galante.

We'll see how things go!!!!!!!!!

Looks like things are becoming somewhat calmer here in Gwadloup, at least for the winter break. We'll see how things unfold!

Idea: we could have a few countries resist COVID fascism, establishing a free zone. Then there'd be the equivalent of the iron curtain for COVID. Vive la resistance!

I like how some of the huge multi-billion dollar businesses out there, e.g. Facebook and Instagram, focus on things like "ok we should have a thumbs up choice here" or "we should have a heart choice there". :)

I think it's  not as common here in Guadeloupe to have male parental involvement/investment as in northern, western societies that I know better. I've met a bunch of women with kids who don't seem to have fathers that involved, at least not as directly/heavily as normal in societies I know better. Maybe matches up more w/ e.g. African behaviors in the U.S. or other societies, rather than Eurasian societies.

Maybe in 2022 instead of putting off my travel goals multiple times due to Coronavirus I can go!

"That's the worst case of fascism we've come down with in a while!" :)

Looking forward nervously to making things happen again in the new year!

January? February? I'm thinking of pushing out by March unless there's a serious override, like more travel restrictions or barricades.

Am I on my last shopping trip here? Not sure yet!

I think it'll be another big restart! Every few years seems like there's a pause, a refresh.

It's going to be difficult to get back on the road, I'm going to make some mistakes. That's fine, it'llb e ufn! :)

I want to stay and I want to go but I can't do both! Decent problem to have! :)

Weather, barricades, Coronavirus restrictions, emotions, logistics, etc. So many things to consider! Not sure how things'll look in a few weeks…

Still feels weird & distant, that I'll probably be riding again soon. I guess in a few weeks it may seem surprisingly imminent. The human mind doesn't work all that logically! :)

Maybe I'll just feel like I'm better off going. Ready to ride. Like I'd rather have the challenges of the road than the challenges of Capesterre. Or the opportunities.

I think I've been getting (slightly) fat and comfy here. I think it'll be a valuable change of pace to get back out there on the road of adventure! :)

I'm aiming to do a different style of bike touring next. E-bike touring, staying in apartments. Until now I've done pedal bike touring, mainly camping.

I'm aiming to become more resilient, psychologically and socially and in other ways. I think physiologically is off the table due to age. :) I've had some challenges maintaining a clear head some days. I'm working to do better at focusing my efforts on life rather than false mental disturbances.

I'm aiming to go more efficiently!

Let's terminate COVID fascism!

With increasing knowledge of genealogical origins from genetics, we should have Appelation d'Origine Controlee for ethnicity! :)

Fruit drink - Ingredients: water, sugar, marketing, fruit concentrate (2%). NOW WITH 50% MORE MARKETING!

In France you could also add to the ingredients list: French arrogance.

After the war on drugs and the war on sex, what's next? The war on food and water? The war on all that is good?

In thick Russian accent: "Da, of course I am American citizen. I am from West Carolina Oblast. My name Vasiliy Vasiliyivich."

Don't eat too many fruits and vegetables! :)

Politicians have often deprived people of our freedom and life, e.g. fascism, socialism, COVID BS. I guess it's social justice that the occasional politician gets offed. To be fair, things were fairly brutal even before politicians arrived on the (ob)scene.

Idea: lemon chili soda! :)

Right when you think you have one thing figured out, another thing pops up! :)

A French iguana from French Guiana! :)

I feel like the tide's turning? I'm feeling maybe more comfortable than I have before in Capesterre but now perhaps ready to leave soon emotionally, intellectually, logistically? What's left in the new year? Some comfort and security, some friends. What's pulling? Vaccines for new lands.

Maybe in a month the weather will clear up, the local conflict will clear up, and my mind will clear up?! :)

Go ahead with your life, answer the call! Adventure! :)

COVID fascism isn't even vaguely on the same scale as World War II fascism, but it's in the same direction of deranged lunacy that screws over the human population.

Things actually are more complicated than they seem.

European stuff is often overprice/overly fancy. E.g. languages have tons of unnecessary rules that don't add anything, food often has tons of unnecessary prep that doesn't make it better. In the better cases, however, there are also aspects of European cultures that are quite beautiful and delicious! :)

COVID's over if you want it. What if they had a fascist lockdown and nobody came?

Witnessing the spread of COVID belief, it's easy to see how religions have spread, with their political structures too.

I think this qualifies as one of those events that future people will look back on and laugh, if they even bother to look back at this time. Somewhat how like we can look back on primitive people who didn't understand or believe in evolution.

Rock On!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Weird yet common situation. I have a serious long-term desire to go, but I don't feel like leaving now. So cloudy and peaceful and feeling like staying. Easy just to rent here, but I'd rather travel when I can. Hopefully I'll feel more like going in the upcoming while when it makes more practical sense to go!

I have my motivations, which I think will drive me out when it makes more practical sense to go. The usual human motivations, more or less! :)

What would a slimmer, trimmer you look like? Not just in the body, but also in the mind, and socially.

What will it take to get there? Better materials, structures, arrangements?

Starting to pack! Deciding what to take, leave! Exciting! Feels like leaving!

Memories rushing back!

While staying here and focusing on work and other "office" tasks, I guess I've specialized somewhat for indoorsy things. Now my old way of life seems somewhat foreign! :)

I have waaaaay too much stuff! Struggling to get rid of it!

On the heavy cloudy days, I feel like I can't/don't want to even get out of bed, let alone do anything difficult. On the sunny days (not too sunny!) I feel like doing tons of cool things!!!!! :)

I feel sorry for the numerous people who've had travels canceled, lost their businesses, and suffered other serious problems from the COVID BS restrictions.

Remove mass & mess!

Keep on evolving! Actions else words!

Go light, go up! Go light up? :)

Cleaning up more stuff, it's remarkable how much accumulates, and how great it feels to remove things!

Jejej, an accumulation of excess SARS masks! :)

Paper, plastic, and other things add up in weight, and you don't usually need them later other than a few important numbers that you can easily record electronically. Better not to keep much stuff around if you're traveling.

I spent waaaay longer in Guadeloupe than expected! Looking back through things from like well over a year ago. Also, I'm not as worried about the usual ups and downs now, I think. Looking at some mementos from difficult times in other countries that I can laugh at now! :)

Things have changed considerably for me while in Gwadloup. I'm now renting regularly, with much more stability in finances and other areas of my life.

Every ounce counts. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Shedding the ounces from my  belongings feels probably like someone fat shedding pounds from their body! :)

Even a small amount of stuff that I randomly grabbed from my cleaning-up junk feels way too heavy. I think I'm taking several pounds off, not just ounces.

The psychology of hoarding. It's all too easy to add one more small item, and all too difficult to throw away one small item. But those small items add up to a large weight.

A can-do attitude is worth a ton!!!!! :)

I think I took out like 90% of the weight I had in my bag! :)

Lesson: clean more often!!!!! :)

Sometimes your dreams can seem far off, when you're feeling stuck or frustrated. But if you keep at it, you can gradually make them real!!!!! :)

I'm starting to look & feel like a rider again!!!!! :)

Bike traveler nation! :)

When can I ride?!?! :)

At different ages, w/ different financial situations, etc., the actions that add value to one's life change. It can be difficult to keep up with one's own values!

Whatever you do, whoever you are, there'll be some personal issues, so just deal w/ them as you can and appreciate the desirable things! :)

Slop on some sunblock and hop on your bike!

My place is looking unrecognizable to me when I walk in! cleaner, leaner, meaner! :)

Feels like restarting my travels! Carefully planning each stage! I love it! :)

Bureaucrap! :)

Feelin' surreal to maybe return to travel again soon!

At least while in Gwad I had a chance to learn some psych, stats, chem, etc., make some glasses, get my DNA sampled, publish my book, make some friends, eat some Caribbean and French food, get some exercise, etc. etc. etc.! :)

My travel kit's now looking, smelling, and feeling way different than just before! Still much heavier than I want it, but at least it's lighter and cleaner, and I know more things that I can get rid of!

Gradually dropping more weight, rearranging things, replacing old large things with newer smaller things!

I think there's no critical obstacle to me going to Marie-Galante. The barricades and the weather are enough for me to hold off through the new year, plus I'd rather spend the turn of the year here and then go.

The ferry restrictions and Dominica entry restrictions may pose critical obstacles to me going to Dominica, for maybe a few weeks/months. I'll investigate those again in more detail in January. At least until then I'm free to tour Marie-Galante, a brand new island! :)

Gonna die and have some difficulties along the way anyways, may as well adventure!!!!! :)

I'm super excited to go to other countries, areas, climates, cultures!

A year from now where will I be? Brasil?!?

I'm ready to do tons of learning over the upcoming years! I think there'll be many new and different experiences in the upcoming while!

Will Coronavirus fascism override my ride again? :)

Wouldn't be riding quite yet anyways, with the COVID BS, rain, barricades, etc., but I'm counting down the days!

Just keep on adjusting!!!!!!!!!! :)

I think it's critical to be yourself and be confident about yourself, whoever you are! :)

More cars burning, violent conflicts in Gwadloup!

I think I just watched a video in "Kreyolglish" -- like Spanglish but for Kreyol. :)

I'm now thinking travel thoughts again, in a serious planning manner. The last times I tried this exercise it didn't work out due to Coronavirus. Will it work out this time?

With the island burning and the ferries returning, it remains too iffy to go in 2021. I'm aiming tentatively for mid-January 2022. Potential issues: tough entry requirements in Dominica, barricades/fires/riots in Gwadloup.

I figure if I go in mid-January that leaves enough time for the two vaccine shots on the likely-seeming assumption that they'll still be necessary to enter Dominica. I want to hit the road again by like March/April, I was thinking internationally. I suppose if I only leave Kapeste around then it would be fine, but I'd probably rather have those extra months (January-March-ish) around Marie Galante than Kapeste.

Jajaj, great search string for finding Worlds O Wisdom: "can iguanas eat ice cream" :)

Another: "el burrito albino pdf" :)

Do they have faecesbook yet?

So much marketing crap out there, not sure what to do with it!

Communism you're broke, capitalism you're spammed!

Make things tight and compact and nice! :)

This weather makes me feel like crud, but this rum makes me feel better! :)

Coronavirus is BS, let's terminate the political mess!

I just wanna travel, have fun, etc.! :)

Why doesn't Harvard have a weird lady sex major? School is messed up.

Hint: school sucks. They've had fascist school, commie school, and today's jackass school. Ignore what they teach, do your own thing! :) (Some exceptions apply, there are good things about school too!)

Be yourself!!!!! :) forget the rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

I think it's more useful to learn phrases than grammar in another language. i.e. practice instead of school.

In practice I think that the photo/data setup I now have will be useful for the upcoming years. Same for many of the other infrastructure things I've set up while in Gwad.

Freedom instead of templates! Originality!!!!! :)

I think the present day with Coronavirus bureauracy and other problems constitutes a situation where the usual political systems have failed badly enough for people to resist. This happens somewhat regularly, e.g. in the twentieth century there were far more severe failures. Every now and then it takes a refresh, in some cases bloody. Better if peaceful.

A thousand dollar bottle of wine isn't that different than a ten dollar bottle of wine, and a million dollar car isn't that different than a ten thousand dollar car. The expensive products are somewhat louder but do basically the same thing. Doesn't seem worth going crazy for money beyond security and the other basics.

Kreyol is a fun language to learn! I'm still struggling in spoken conversation, but somewhat better, and I can now chat by text, and read and write half-decently.

I like the Kreyol grammar better than English, French, or other languages I know. It's simple, easy to use. Does away with tons of useless crud that accumulated in other languages. For example, gender and conjugation.

It's funny how some words from French are "frozen" in some specific conjugation, then reactivated for Kreyol with just that tense for whatever other uses. For instance, "gen" (to have), which I think may derive from French "j'ai un", can also be "you have", "they have", "there is/are", etc.

Learning a new language feels like playing a game. At least for the languages I'm learning now (Kreyol, Spanish, Portuguese, etc.) I think also for learning languages in general. I like the Spanish/Portuguese grammar for flexibility, it's fun, if somewhat more difficult than Kreyol. In Kreyol, I like the surprise of finding French words buried within Kreyol words when you figure out the pronunciation.

English seems simple enough in comparison to most languages, w/ somewhat more unnecessary complexity than Kreyol. Tough to evaluate that fairly, since I think one's biased about one's native language.

Things go slow then fast. Each has its advantages and disadvantage. Things now seem remarkably quiet, which I'm appreciating. Another welcome opportunity to rest up for the next busy time, which I think is coming early-ish in the new year!

Unsure exactly when to go, looking for a timely opportunity without riots, travel bans, etc. I'm thinking probably January/February/March. Somewhat scared of going back out there, also confident and mainly excited! :)

Mwen pral monte bisiklet la pou vwayaje byento!!!!! :)

Philosophy:

• Move
  • Have confidence
  • Etc.

You can try and fail, but you're unlikely to succeed if you don't try. So, you can fail regardless of whether you try, but you're more likely to succeed if you try. Try away! :)

Kreyol seems far more efficient in some regards than French. Far fewer unnecessary rules. Easier grammar. I think even more logical than English!

C'était "liberté, égalité, fraternité", pas "fascisme, égalité, fraternité" !

I'm aiming to act more socially now. I started off life somewhat introverted. During my travels I became somewhat more extroverted. During some periods, like pauses from travels, I've become more introverted again. I think there's value in each approach, depending on one's personal situation and the broader situation.

Be you. Beyond.

It's ok to take risks! Do be aware that you're taking them, and consider them beforehand, but without excess fear! :)

Whatever comes up: just adjust! :)

It often makes sense to force yourself into uncomfortable yet valuable situations.

We need innoculations for the mind, not vaccines for a cough.

I think/feel that if you're actively working on self-development, then you may often go through difficult yet rewarding transitions, which require some mental processing. Even if you're not actively working on self-developments, I think there are probably many events to adjust one's life to. So I think it makes sense to expect a bunch of these big-seeming personal events, rather than seeing them as rare exceptions. (Written after/during a series of personal upheavals.)

Things develop through tons of small accumulating events that suddenly seem like a huge event. Seems like if you gradually work on the small events you can contribute towards enhancing the big events. Also seems like sometimes you need a large dose of effort to break through, rather than only the collection of smaller events. Like pounding open a coconut with a hard smash rather than a series of weak hits that don't break the tough husk.

And there's tons of knock-offs/copycats/aping/cloning/etc. along the way. :)

I'm trying to learn some more Kreyol. I've made a few Haitian friends here in Guadeloupe. I feel like I'm making some progress. I think that there's a threshold where I'll have enough grammar, phrases/vocabulary, and listening comprehension to get by in practice. As of now I'm in the struggling-to-keep-up stage.

I think there are fairly steeply declining marginal returns on many things that make people feel good. E.g. alcohol, caffeine, sex. A drink or two and you feel great, but several drinks later and you feel terrible, and over the long term it can ruin your life. Some things, like exercise, seem to offer better rates.

Go through one language, go to another! Learn a language, maybe reach a slower part of the learning curve, move on to another.

Langauge (n.): how you evaluate someone's speech. Not just which language they use, but intonation, pronunciation, etc. Says a lot about a person.

"Did you say 'hassles' or 'assholes'?"

From the desk of some crazy writer… :)

There are numerous events in our lives that are annoying and may make people feel like responding to the frustration with anger. Often it makes more sense if one can control oneself enough to act with positive emotions anyways.

I'd had some difficulty describing summer ("été") in French recently to some friends here. It only dawned on me a few days later that it may have been at least in part due to their not having seasons here (or rather, having only wet and dry seasons rather than summer/winter/fall/spring), rather than just due to my pronunciation. :)

Most or all of the "Coronavirus victims" were old or had severe illnesses. As such, the bureaucrats have taken advantage of weak people's deaths to advance their own careers. Sick.

People get carried away with their winning streaks. The Greeks, Romans, fascists, communists. Anyone who's ever spread fast and had a series of victories eventually goes too far. This goes for other areas than politics, too, e.g. musicians, athletes.

The politicians who found Coronavirus as a propaganda tool -- largely by accident -- found a tool to scare people and force tons of insane regulations. Eventually, however, after Delta variant, fifth wave, and whatever other BS, the politicians go too far and people refuse the crap.

I think you lose a bit of general confidence while talking in a foreign language, as you're struggling to understand or convey information. On the other hand I think you also gain some confidence, as you don't feel tied in to the normal conventions of your culture.

I think that making explicit commitments to action has worked well for me in comparison to other attempts to enhance my actions.

It sort of sucks to get old but there are good things about it, too. Weaker, slower, but also more competent in some regards.

I think it's fairly common to feel like you've often had your desires stymied. I think that life has numerous frustrations. Keep working towards achievable goals, appreciating the positive surprises, managing the disappointments.

The psychology of humans, and even the underlying physical laws, include ups and downs. It's not necessarily through some mistake or fault of your own or someone else's, when things seem unfair or go wrong -- but that can happen too. :)

I feel extremely fortunate to have had so many genuinely desirable experiences. I think that I've seen an unusual selection of places, people, events. For my unusual personality. :)

Don't feel too bad about the failures, it's a lot harder to do things than it seems!

I think there's a reason why nobody says "I can't wait to be middle-aged!" :)

It's a sad time, but at least you can do what you want often.

Don't look for the easy way out, look for the tough/beautiful/effective way up! :)

Go to the communists' parties and the fascists' business meetings, not the other way around. :)

No caribou in the Caribbean!

COVID: the mass psychology of stupidity.

A thing (any thing) is just a useful label, basically. For example, there's a computer. It's a bunch of parts that provisionally work together to compute. The parts can go into other machines, or be discarded. The computer doesn't start and cease to exist, except as a useful label.

Regulate politicians!

Fund slogans!

If you went walking around in public with a loudspeaker and a chemistry set making motorcycle noises and emitting toxic fumes, you'd be arrested and prosecuted, and rightfully so. There's no solid reason why riding a motorcycle should be exempt from the same.

Coronavirus is more relevant to the social sciences than the medical sciences.

What's the difference between a groove and a rut?

Often a different place, time, or context reveals things that seem obvious but weren't.

Mwen ap appran yon ti kras plis kreyol. Se anka difisil, menn akounya mwen a mwen ka pale ak zanmi m nan kapeste.

Wòch ak woule! :)

Do the hard and important things first. You can do the easy things after, and ignore the unimportant things!

I'm now thinking of going to Marie-Galante, the nearby island in Guadeloupe, in December!!!!! :)

May as well see some new things, now that I don't need this address!

Waiting out the state of emergency, verifying that I can get to the island and that I can deal with vaccines or other potential requirements for going to Dominica. Then aiming to go!!!!! :)

Haven't traveled in years! Not accurate if you count traveling in the relatively small area near where I'm staying in Capesterre, but this'll be the first time I'll have taken all my stuff and traveled since arriving here like two years ago!

Moderately scary but mainly exciting! :)

I now have tons more travel experience than when I started this cyclotouring. I have the knowledge and confidence to do it! :)

If you're thinking of starting to travel, you should feel confident enough to take the plunge!

I think that it would be somewhat like going to a new country. Even if I'm not yet in Dominica for various practical reasons yet, it would feel like travel again!

I think you have to work hard and take risks at practically any stage of life, if you want to make it!

I'm feeling disturbingly settled. Not that I plan to stay in Capesterre, but after a couple of years or so you build up enough things, methods of doing things, and so forth that you feel attached. Still, I want to go! :)

Maybe I'll take a shot at Marie-Galante in December, but at any rate it's looking like things are coming into place for some action in 2022!

Marie-Galante is a sizable fraction of the size of Dominica!

WTF? The vaccine can take months?! They've had millions of people take these vaccines, and are forcing many people to take them? For a cough?

I am aghast at how stupid people can be.

Anyways, rock on! :)

I think I've been wearing Eagle Eyes goggles for around a year now. So far so good!

They feel better for my face than any pair of glasses I've bought. They don't brush up against my eyelashes, as many commercial pairs have done. Eagle Eyes also look fine. People don't even notice that I made them! :)

Tons of other advantages, too. I have several pairs with different lenses, e.g. tinted prescription sunglasses and my regular clear prescription glasses. I can modify the frame as necessary, and I can make replacements from anywhere!

It's taking me a while to adjust to the unfolding COVID/travel situation, as well as numerous other personal developments. I guess the COVID/travel situation is taking everyone a while to adjust to.

Maybe I'll take a shot at Marie-Galante in December, but at any rate it's looking like things are coming into place for some action in 2022!

I think the best response to these difficulties is to laugh! :)

Looks like more riots down the street from me. Also, more COVID BS on the continents.

Increasing social destruction. Over a cough.

Tough to make travel plans during a crisis! :)

Politicians have messed up society over this COVID crud. They owe society!

Ironically, the distant small-country folks in Guadeloupe have more accurate information than the connected scientists in the "metropole". Not through more exhaustive thinking or the like, if anything the opposite (many locals think that herbal remedies work). From experience. The French told Guadeloupeans that a highly toxic pesticide was safe, which even now (years later) is harming locals. Government science sucks. It's about as good as government customer service. :)

Guess I may be stuck in Capesterre for somewhat longer. At least there's entertainment with the riots! :)

Emoceans. :)

Human (n.): a pretentious monkey. Humans have pretentious tales instead of prehensile tails.

The frustration's killing me! I know intellectually it's not that big of a deal. I'm guessing it won't be that much time until the borders reopen. Nonetheless, I find it annoying to want to travel, or leave this island for that matter, yet not have the ferries open.

One of the search strings going to Worlds O Wisdom: "why does my iguana run from me". :)

Iguanas are fearful animals. They're herbivores, somewhat like cattle, even if iguanas look scarier.

Exercise more confident control of your own mind, while also allowing through more information!

Venezuela looks like it was a super nice place before socialism. Beautiful hotels, gorgeous geography.

Oil can destroy a small economy.

While looking for info on the ferry that may run from Trinidad & Tobago to Venezuela, finding a bunch of forum results from around five years ago, ten years ago, fifteen years ago (did they even have the internet back then?!).

Just came across this in a news piece from earlier this year:

But in the past two years, the 80-kilometer (50-mile) stretch has become a watery grave for more than 100 residents of the state of Sucre and its capital, Guiria, a city of 40,000 people.
Many perished while fleeing Venezuela's floundering economy and political turmoil, hoping to find a new life, while others were making the treacherous journey simply to buy food.
Just last month, almost 30 people drowned when their boat -- which had space for eight passengers but left Guiria with 41, according to authorities -- sunk in the Gulf of Paria.

From <https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210107-venezuelans-risk-lives-to-buy-flour-rice-from-trinidad-and-tobago>

Guess I'm going to Guyana.

There's a whole big world out there that I want to see!!!!! :)

Please kill off the COVID idiocy!

I'm sick of wasting precious time over the COVID BS.

Annoyed at the COVID BS even if it's been beneficial for me. :)

I guess it's normal for there to be these idiotic situations. I'm old enough now to expect this as the old and new normal. :)

Looks like they're starting to reopen the ferries!!!!! :)

They have some quarantines and other things, so I may wait a few more weeks/months to go. Exciting!!!!

What a relief. I've been increasingly annoyed at being stuck in Guadeloupe. The ferry hasn't run since March 2020!

Maybe I'll go in January?

I want to ensure that I can go to Dominica then leave safely. Other than that, I'm ready!

I can feel the life coming back into me!!!!! :)

Somewhat scary, but better to do scary things than to waste away.

I'm thinking, go in November or December if the quarantines and the entry into Dominica and Martinique are feasible, or else in the first few months of 2022.

Looks like it's a gradual resumption of service. I think I'll wait out the initial few ferries, but go soon.

Suddenly I feel much less like a prisoner!!!! :)

Or at least like a prisoner whose sentence is coming to an end soon! :)

Remember to take some risks! Not stupid ones, but… :)

I think/hope I haven't become too old or lazy over the COVID for adventure travel! :)

I think I'm going to have way more stuff than I want to carry. I'm going to aim to leave as much of it behind as I can.

Each gray hair a reminder to do as much as I can, see as much as I can, while I can!!!!! :)

I feel like another huge turnaround!

Each of which seems to have an inflection point yet take some time to process.

I have a lot more reminders now than just a few years ago!

A lesson: taking risks can bite you in the butt, but so can not taking risks.

How many more shopping trips in Capesterre? 0? 1? 5?

I think that a lot of my travel lessons from starting out remain valid, for travel now and for life in general.

Try/aim/work to have a positive attitude/actions regardless of the negative words/events/feelings!

I could probably technically go this week!

Looks like it may take a vaccine, plus have other restrictions, so I'm not entirely sure that I will go this week, but I like the idea! :)

Worlds of new possibilities are opening before me! :)

I feel like I've fairly exhausted the activities in Capesterre. I've seen each street multiple times, I've met the people, I've tried practically all the foods in the shops.

Life's too short to stay in the same small town! :)

It feels great to leave your apartment, town, country! Do it if you can!!!!! :)

Keep on working through the difficulties!!!!! :)

They're there anyways, so just go for the goals! :)

The frustrations increase the drives!

I wanna go ASAP!!!!! :)

It's so constraining to stay in one small town when there are whole huge continents to explore!!!!! :)

There've been times during this idiotic COVID that I've considered whether it would ever end. Even now I suspect there'll be long-lasting travel difficulties and other fallout.

Fits within the usual issues, though. These things happen. Then you move ahead.

Given that I didn't have a choice in this COVID thing, it's worked out quite well. I'm now looking to travel as soon and as much as I can!!!!! :)

I'm even looking forward to some of the annoyances and discomforts of travel, at least for the first little while. :)

I've been through a lot, and I'm going through a lot more. At least, that's the plan!

Both of the ferry lines that reach Dominica are going back into service! One of them also goes to Saint Lucia, a country I want to visit soon.

Now spending some time deciding when to go. Apparently there's a "state of emergency" in this country (Guadeloupe). I think it makes sense to give it a bit of time to settle, but not too much!

With a vaccine, there isn't necessarily a quarantine, but maybe there would be if you test positive on arrival for "Coronavirus". I'm going to put that in quotes given how widely misrepresented it is.

It feels surreal to plan travels again after like two years in Guadeloupe!!!!!

Woah, crazy. Violent protests over the stupid COVID vaccines in Guadeloupe. At least some people have enough sense to see through the COVID politics. Looks like there are also protests in other countries!

What's this "health pass"? Official permission to go to certain locations?

Looks like the "compulsory" vaccinations that they're protesting are for health workers, so at least that wouldn't affect me directly.

Europe and Australia are protesting against the COVID idiocy.

Tens of thousands of protesters within a single country. Millions of individuals affected by nasty politicians.

Mandatory vaccinations for regular people?! Like sheep.

Hehe, France sent "dozens of elite security force officers" to Guadeloupe. Over a cough!

Capesterre Belle-Eau made the international news! For destruction of some electrical infrastructure nearby by COVID protesters.

Looting jewelry stores. Burning buildings to the ground. Potential for serious conflict.

This COVID has to be one of the stupidest things I've seen. As I wrote before I don't find it that surprising, but I do find it that stupid.

The COVID deprivations seem like the sort of abuses of people that have produced revolutions and killings.

Looking through some media coverage of COVID, they largely seem to fail to grasp the situation. Some are obviously politically biased, while others just seem kind of ignorant.

Hey, they've got some decent verbiage:

La détérioration du climat social n'est que le résultat du pourrissement volontairement orchestré par l'Etat, avec la complicité des élus et des médias aux ordres.

From <https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/guadeloupe/greve-generale-illimitee-la-plateforme-de-revendications-compte-32-points-1159861.html>

So with the state of emergency, I'm holding off for a slight while longer. Maybe in a week, maybe in a month, or maybe somewhat more!

I prefer caffeine to alcohol. Makes you feel up instead of down. Makes you productive instead of destructive. Generally good for your health instead of bad for your health. Caffeinated beverages often taste better to me than alcoholic beverages. Some exceptions to all of the above. Not sure that I felt this way a few years ago.

Another gotcha: even if the ferry's running, if Dominica's still only allowing people on "managed stays" then I'm not sure that I'd want to go yet.

Looks like that may only be for the unvaccinated!!!!!

I think they've loosened those restrictions. Before, I think anyone traveling from Guadeloupe to Dominica had to go to their quarantine program with tight restrictions. Now I think it's considerably more free for the vaccinated.

People give up their basic freedom over a cough. It makes sense that dictatorships have often prevailed in human societies.

The COVID shutdowns are a giant interference, like if a meteor struck Earth. We have to work around broken politics.

Morning after finding out the ferries are running, feeling ecstatic, yet annoyed at having to remain somewhat longer! :)

Mainly excited to go on to other destinations!

Another explosion. Same conditions as last time. While cooking rice on the stove. I think the butane may build up then combust? This time I saw the explosion, and it left a somewhat sulfur-y smell. A medium flash of light.

Around two years of my life, in Guadeloupe. Far more than I wanted to spend here, but at least the timing's worked out that I was here while I was exhausted and had a consistent series of useful things to do. Plus it's a scenic place with French cheese! :)

In locations with really dismal weather, do they have gray postcards with clouds? :)

I'm now thinking of myself as actively working to leave, given that I technically can. With the state of emergency in Guadeloupe and the somewhat severe restrictions in Dominica, I'm not leaving right yet, but soon.

Roseau, here we come! :)

I wonder how many people have lost their jobs, businesses, lives over the lockdowns. Those would be the real statistics. Not the false epidemiological stats.

If there weren't the state of emergency and travel restrictions, I think I'd go next week.

I think that many people just listen to what they hear on the news, or what they hear from their friends who heard it on the news. Take it for granted, without awareness of the systematic political bias behind it.

Also, a fair number of people have their own political bias, the people supporting the political lies.

When will I go? I don't yet know. I'm thinking… maybe January/February/March 2022.

Aiming for sooner if feasible, i.e. November or December, but that may not be practical.

Probably won't be before January. At least a week while they've shut Guadeloupe down. Then at a minimum two weeks after a vaccination, if they even have the one-shot vaccine. That already pushes things to around the turn of the year, when it may be difficult or infeasible or undesirable to travel.

With the ferries just starting out again, under constrained capacity, it may also be difficult/infeasible to buy a ticket.

Maybe in the new year there'll be fewer restrictions, anyways.

People often rely on low-quality information. In many cases you have to, as that's all that's available. Nonetheless, people often blindly trust low-quality information instead of thinking for themselves, or looking for alternative sources.

I think the sentence structure is the big differentiator in Kreyol versus French.

I think Kreyol grammar is noticeably different than French. Maybe somewhat like English, but also not the same as that.

Pwochen mwen planifye pou ale Dominik. Mwen te vle ale pou kèk tan, men ak Coronavirus la ferry yo pa te kouri.

Thinking of doing a small ride to a nearby island. The island is in Guadeloupe. I didn't want to go before the ferries to Dominica reopen. Then I'd risk getting stuck there, and I'd rather stay on the main Guadeloupe island than that smaller island. Also I'd been receiving mail at this address and busy working. Now I've collected my mail and done those projects, and the ferry to Dominica is open.

It would give me an opportunity to practice touring again, as well as to see the island which I think is quite nice. I've been feeling cooped up here.

They've taken the map feature out of the Airbnb app, weird.

There are also a couple of other very small islands nearby, within Guadeloupe, which I may visit.

There are definitely some difficulties in travel that I'm not as excited about! Going through some of the process to prepare for leaving, I'm reminded of some of the frustrations of the road. I guess there's some sacrifice for whatever you do.

You have to take on the difficulties if you want to make it anywhere.

At least the Airbnb web app retains the map.

So exciting to have this turnaround!!!!! :)

Looking forward to traveling again soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Do what you want!

There's already too much pressure from other people to do stupid things. Just focus on your own core values! Ignore the rest! :)

Use as many safe and productive drugs as you can! :)

Nobody will care about a few mess-ups down the road. The people who criticize you won't be around. It's only a matter of what you care about.

What you feel, what you value, what you want.

Enough to go for.

Which through biological programming is likely to include sex, food, travel, etc. :)

Most of what people say is flat-out wrong.

Humanity is a messed-up species. :)

Socialism messed up Venezuela, self-elected socialism, jejejej! :)

Voter (n.): idiot.

I'm dying to live! I want to ride again soon! Please reopen the international borders!!!!! :)

Given how susceptible people are to fooling, I guess I can't blame governments for fooling them. :)

I think I satiated my previous method of touring. I didn't feel like doing more of the wild camping. I wanted to rent more. Now I have plans to do the upcoming period, after the Coronavirus, differently, faster, more upscale.

The Coronavirus itself probably isn't anywhere near as destructive as the political response to it. And in the political response, I include the BS statistics. :)

Venezolanito: "¿Por qué no tenemos mucha comida?
Padres: "Porque tus padres votaron por los socialistas."

Sadly, millions of Venezuelans including kids are going hungry.

I've been feeling somewhat tired the last few days, after a few days of feeling more alert. I think it has to do w/ the weather, my go-to explanation.

I have a theory (or a hypothesis if you want to get technical), that large global weather systems produce periods of quiet in multiple economies simultaneously, then periods of activity in multiple economies simultaneously.

Speculative. From noticing that quiet days often coincide with having less work, and that weather systems often overlap many areas with which I do business. Tons of other possible explanations, too.

We as humans don't really need to respond to the weather so much, in theory. We have enough tools that we could just ignore the weather, which some people (less emotional people) seem to do. Our biology doesn't evolve that fast, though, so I think our bodies often respond to the weather as though we were living in the stone age, when our survival depended on those responses.

The quiet days can be pleasant but less productive. The noisy days can be productive but less pleasant. I guess there's room for both.

Having another bit of a go at learning some Creole. There are tons of Haitians in Guadeloupe, including in my neighborhood and in my building. I agree with my previous assessment: not that practical of a language for me to learn. They already speak French and so do I, so we wind up talking in French.

At least I can now make out a substantial part of the Creole that I hear, like 70-80%. I think that may be better than I could understand before.

Feeling somewhat like I'm stuck in prison, with the Coronavirus closing the ferry off the island.

Also feeling somewhat free, as I can at least go outside whenever I want, and do what I please.

Whichever culture a person's from, if you dig back deep enough you can find the hunter-gatherer.

Whatever you do, do it well! :)