Hanging in there...

[shadowkat]

1. On the way to the train station a few weeks back (November 1, before the US decided to shit its pants again), sis-in-law rec'd a series of podcasts that she's been listening to.

They are Revolutions by Mike Duncan - available on Apple and Spotify.

There's 12 seasons.

The first season is the 16th Century Scottish Revolution. The twelfth season is a fictional account of the Martian Revolution of 2247, hence the reason she rec'd it to me - she knows I'm a sci-fi fan like my brother.
We both watch sci-fi, we're also binge watchers of dramatic serials. We went through The Diplomat in two evenings.

I may try it after I finish my Illona Andrews audio books.

2. Goodreads Reader Choice Awards Voting is up, and I've officially not read (or for the most part heard of) any of them. There's maybe two that I own, but have not read.

I clearly do not have the same taste as the majority of the reading public, or the television or film public. Or for that matter, the people who voted in the US election. I voted for Harris/Waltz - I thought it was a no-brainer and obvious choice. Apparently, I was wrong.

We keep discussing it off-hand at work - in snatches. Not at length, and not for more than two seconds. None of us can bear to think about it or those who inflicted it upon us.

I got surprised by MK. I thought she was a conservative Long Islander, she's not - or probably a moderate. We had a brief conservation about it - shifting to cruises. Apparently you can take a four year cruise to well escape the US? Villa Vie Residences is offering it - they are a long-stay residential cruise line.

"Villa Vie Residences, a cruise line offering long-stay residential cruises, announced several multi-year packages onboard its ship Villa Vie Odyssey. The company’s release announcing the packages, called “Tour La Vie,” did not directly mention the U.S. elections, but the cheekily named package options offer some hint into how its marketing the products as escapes from the country’s electoral realities.

For one year, cruisers are offered the “Escape from Reality” package; for two years, it’s the “Mid-Term Selection” package; three years is the “Everywhere But Home” package, or cruisers can choose the four-year “Skip Forward” package.

Packages include accommodation with twice-weekly housekeeping service, high-speed internet, gratuities, and meals. Rates start from $49,999 per person (double occupancy) for the one-year package up to $159,999 per person (double occupancy) for the four-year package. Villa Vie also offers full or fractional ownership options, unlimited access options, or a “pay as you go” option that allows for shorter stays. Friends and family can also join as long-term stay guests for a per-night rate that’s based on the ownership or cruise length package.

I don't know - I'm not sure I could handle living at sea. I get motion sickness and sea sickness easily. I took dramamine when I did a sailing trip in my thirties. (I'm too old and creaky to do it again.)

Co-worker (MK) said she'd done a cruise to Bermuda recently and won't do it again. It had a lot of heavy drinkers and party folks on it. They basically drank all day long. She told me that it's not that she had anything against drinking or didn't like to drink - but all day long, every day? Drunk?
It was a Celebrity Cruise (ETA: no, it was Norwegian) to Bermuda, so maybe I won't do that?

Having never been on a cruise (unless you count the sailing trip I did in Turkey way back in 2000), I'm becoming a bit of an expert on it. I'd do another sailing trip - but you have to be in good shape for those. They are physically tasking. Albeit cheaper than the cruises on the yachts and big ships.

If you have $50K-$160K lying about that you've no clue what to do with, lucky you, then this may be your thing?

I don't.

3. I'm bored at work, which is exhausting in its own unique way. Last year, at this time, I was stressed and overwhelmed, and very busy at work. This year, I'm bored out of my mind, and so is Breaking Bad. Although neither of us are willing to admit it. My difficulty is I'm too efficient for my own good and dependent on others for my work.

As a result, I'm spending too much time on social media, scrolling, reading random entertainment news, and on a soap fan board.

I do break it up with meditation for about twenty minutes in the morning. Talking to folks. Take a walk at lunch. Listen to an audio book.

And...revising my novel. I have several I need to finish and revise. So not short of that. This one I've been revising for two years now. I finally figured out why it wasn't working and am pulling out a bunch of stuff, along with a lot of characters and condensing it. I am bad at plotting - I tend to get bored and go off on sub-tangents. Also I complicate things.
I am more of a gardener when it comes to writing, than a planner and plotter. It's probably why I liked Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and Buffy - I like figuring it out as I go. I don't really want to plot it all out ahead of time - I get bored when I do that - because I already know what happened.

I don't handle boredom well. That's when my brain starts to attack me with all sorts of worries.

4. It's overcast but still no rain. Cold too. So there's that. Although not too cold, just in the fifties.

5. Sis-in-law posted a bunch of charities that her company gives 10% of their profits too, on Instagram. Here's the ones, I'm considering?

* The Trevor Project

"The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ young people. We provide information & support to LGBTQ+ young people 24/7, all year round."

* The Brennan Center for Justice

"As an independent, nonpartisan law and policy organization, the Brennan Center conducts rigorous research to identify problems and provide in-depth empirical findings and compelling analyses of pressing legal and policy issues. We also pioneer and champion policy solutions, such as automatic voter registration and small donor public financing."

* National Park Service

"The generosity of our citizens through their tax dollars and their donations helps to sustain America's national parks. Donations may be made:

to a national park—find your favorite!
to a park friends group
through a purchase at a park bookstore
to the National Park Foundation, our Congressionally chartered national
philanthropic partner
to support our national programs"

* The Sierra Club

We are a grassroots movement of 64 chapters and millions of members and volunteers nationwide. We are ready to stop DJT’s extreme anti-environment agenda and corporate polluters at every level of government, because we’ve done it before. It's time to protect our health, our communities, our lands – our future.

-----

She also listed the Legal Aid Society of NYC, Ouahu Water Protectors, and Planned Parenthood and the International Rescue Center.

Last time - I gave to the ACLU, the NYCLU, Planned Parenthood, Nature Conservancy, Environmental Defense Fund, National Parks, Green Faith, Southern Poverty Law Center...and Sierra Club. Also Alzheimer's Foundation.
NAMI - The Mental Health Charity, Amnesty International and UUA-Human Rights Advocacy.

It's overwhelming how many there are.

Comments

[days_unfolding]

There are a lot of drinkers on my cruise (also Celebrity). I’m looking for a cruise line with less partiers.

[shadowkat]

I'm thinking right now Holland? I was wrong - MK (co-worker) had gone on Norweigan, which is supposed to be less of a party ship. (For some reason, I remembered Celebrity - I think it's because I've seen a lot of things on Celebrity recently).

They say the smaller ships are less party atmospheres, but also more prone to sea-sickness.
Maybe the River Cruises - although they can be pricey.

It seems that a lot of people go on cruises to drink and party, apparently?

[yourlibrarian]

Regarding cruises I found that to be true of Carnival cruises, both a lot of drinkers and a lot of families. Of course, I suppose it also depends what one's doing. I didn't spend time by the pool or in the casino at night.

It does definitely become a big issue when you're talking about being on the same ship for a year though. Although I expect the people aboard would rotate since they have both permanent, semi-permanent and visiting guests.

It's odd that they'd call themselves the world's first as I heard about 15 years ago of ships where people could buy staterooms and cruise on a permanent basis. Maybe it's the same company, who knows? I wouldn't be that concerned about being seasick, but I do think I'd get homesick after a while. I find that on trips, 2 weeks is usually enough for me to be away. Plus there would be all sorts of things that would have to be dealt with remotely, and I'd worry about medical issues since they're somewhat vague about what sort of equipment and staffing they have.

[shadowkat]

Per the video, some people treat the ship as if it were their home? I'm thinking they must but things in storage and just stay on the ship? It has been around for a while though - hardly recent, since my father looked into it prior to retiring. But he had so many health issues - heart mainly - and back - that it wasn't feasible according to my mother.

I think the television series "Doctor Odyssey" is based on these types of ships? Because it is a smaller ship, and it is called Odyssey, and has a built in around the clock medical unit, which a lot of cruise ships don't have.

That said? I'm with you on this one - I'd worry about medical issues as well. Also I like being on dry land. I get claustrophobic, and I'd feel stuck on a boat. Plus the anxiety of getting back in time, before it departs, would drive me nuts. I'm not sure I have the disposition for that sort of lifestyle. Living in a floating hotel would probably get on my nerves. I don't want to live in a regular hotel.

As my mother pointed out - I'd get sick of the food (even more than she would - I've food restrictions, it's easier if I cook my own - I can eat more that way), and limited clothing and entertainment options. I require more diversity of options, I think? Although it would an interesting way to see the world.

[yourlibrarian]

Yes, one reason I enjoy cruises to begin with is that it's a relaxed way of seeing new places. And I wouldn't mind living in a hotel, though it would have to be one that's got a decent kitchen included. I'm not a cook but I prepare 90% of my food, so I need appliances, pots, tools, etc. But I'd have to rely on the cruise staff for most of my food and that would be difficult given dietary restrictions.

But I feel the enjoyment would wear out after a few months. And given it takes almost 4 years to do all their stops, I'd be better off doing longer cruises with a specific set of destinations.

[shadowkat]

That's my take as well. It would make more sense to do 5-20 day cruises instead. I've never done a big cruise, only a sailing cruise, on a sailboat that slept about six-eight people. We had a lot of the meals prepared on board by a really good chef - the ship's captain could cook. That was for about 14 days. Last long overseas trip I took, in 2000. I was a lot younger.

[avrelia]

I also found that I read exactly three of the Good reads Choice books this year. Two T. Kingfisher books and Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries book

[shadowkat]

How's the Emily Wilde book? I have the T Kingfisher ones and the Emily Wilde, but that's it. Haven't read them yet.

[avrelia]

I loved it, mostly because I loved the heroine's lack of people skills corresponding with good research skills. Basically, I love competent characters, and here they are competent each in their own way.

[shadowkat]

Thanks, will look into it. I admittedly like logical and competent characters as well.