Sunset thinking

Sunset in the wild is relaxing and pleasant, as long as one feels safe. Safe from animals that bite, big and small. This involves fences, screens, distances, weaponry all sorts, and sporadic vigilance. Without comfort of the appropriate kind in adequate measure, the lift in the spirit from the peace at dusk in the bush stays out; may turn to discomfort instantly, even escalate into terror. Those climate change summer fires hit everywhere! Where was the last one? 

The arm’s length experience of the bush in our time is only partly comparable to that of early discoverer generations, the romanticised pioneers and explorers on yesteryear’s land. For many today, it is best in books and movies, photos and videos, fenced resorts with animals safely on show. TikTok has lots of funny stuff. The earth shrinks from transport, artificial borders and intrusive civilisation. New brands of the real thing is lived as vicarious experience according to budget.

The real-world experience content changes continually as humans get old, generations getting replaced. More people on earth, on average living so much longer, balanced against decreases and disappearances in the numbers of so many other species as a consequence, matching the human escalation, plus some extras for bad measure. Other change affects our world, some of which we notice. Every era offers different prime time content in human experience, the discernible eras getting shorter, everything changing faster. 

The light changes a little more, contemplation meanders mostly in the moment, as it normally does although we don't notice that, for we venture much into short-term issues and medium-term vagueness. Full focus for most is caught in the current episode of the human story. The future dare not exceed the pension. It happens all too fast to do much for the children once they leave the house. Long term planning? The government changes next election!

The risk we are prepared for is such a small part of what our fragile civilisation may contend with when tomorrow’s change swings that little wider.