Case's Fieldwork

Fieldwork. MY kind of fieldwork involves two things: working hard and playing hard. Yes, there’s also safety, planning, getting equipment and funding, etc., etc., blah, blah. But it all comes down to working and playing.

It’s my goal to instill the kind of fieldwork I learned into the hearts of my students—those brave enough to embark on excursions with me. Because the only way to really learn it, is to do it.

Fieldwork can be trying, rigorous, dangerous, challenging, and frustrating. In my eyes at least, it should also be fun. Sure you may get very hot or super cold, be extremely dry or soaking wet, and sweat like a puerco estacado. But you’ll also be richly rewarded...if not with good, usable data, then with experience that will, hopefully later, lead to wisdom.

So here I am, in my little apartment on my beloved Island of Grenada in the Caribbean while students scamper around the Island on the annual G.R.E.N.A.D.A. (Go, Run, Explore New And Diverse Areas). All part of fieldwork. Lovely.

Right-sizing

I'm writing this post for a friend who suggested I chronicle my recent life events. So here we go...

After my father died, my mother had a LOT to maintain: several horses on several acres means fence repairs, irrigating the pasture, feeding the horses, maintaining the out buildings, and more. We tried, unsuccessfully, for a couple years to get her to "right-size". Not down-size, since smaller isn't necessarily better. But find the size that was right for her. Apparently, she thought the farm was her right-size (though even she admitted she couldn't handle all it entailed...so was it her right-size?)

Over the last couple years, I've reflected on the idea of "right-sizing" and found it quite helpful. How much "stuff" do I really need? How large of a living space do I really need? I've never had much stuff to begin with, but I have even less now it seems.

It's nice.

I live downtown in a studio-size place (renting right now, maybe buying in the future...who knows?) It's a 7-minute walk from my home door to my office door. Plenty of shopping and food opportunities nearby, and I walk most everywhere. After a few months of living here, I even sold my beloved truck.

(And it was my MOST favorite vehicle I've owned! I loved Seven [my truck] more than my little '83 GLC [see a previous post]).

Now I use public transportation to get around the valley. If I need to take a longer excursion, I rent a car. Several rental agencies have shops just blocks from my place. And by renting, I forgo a car payment and car insurance, as well as vehicle maintenance. To get around town quicker than walking, I use Denver's B-Cycle program.

My bank is a five-minute walk. My doctor and dentist just down the street. Even my chiropractor and insurance agent are just a few minutes walk from my building. I can see all of these from my balcony that overlooks the city. When I need fresh food, I stop into Cook's Fresh Market, or use Door-to-Door Organics. And then there's the Denver Arts scene with world-class museum exhibits, plays & musicals, and downtown exhibitions.

It's nice.

Being from "the country", I always dreamed of living in a city, but thought I would not like it. Yet while I still enjoy the outdoors (perhaps more now than when I lived in the country), here I am, living downtown. And enjoying every minute.