The world is contaminated with people and polluted with noise.

[livi]

To a large extent the urban living is a habitat best suited the blind and deaf.

Went down to the beach with the kids today. One of those rare high summer days with just a very slight breeze and a deep blue sky. The ocean all still with just a slow train of quite waves rolling in. Nature at its best and a totally awesome experience. Imagine - just the sound of those almost silent waves and nothing else.

At least nature had made its best to set the table. And it could have been a fantastic moment.

Instead the whole beach is crowded with people that seemingly are deaf as they all have to scream and shout at the top of their lungs - all the time. Gangs of teenagers sporting big mother f&%¤# portable stereos, playing soccer, beach tennis, badminton and what not. Kids screaming and crying. Dogs barking.

I required a full six pack in order to reach a bearable level of tranquility.

[on-ramp]

reminds me of a Twilight Zone episode. imagine how lonely the world would be without life?

[Moneyguy1]

It is harder and harder to find solitude.

I like the desert for that very reason. Lots of "quiet" places.

But it won't stay that way with all the "newcomers" and "snowbirds".

Too many of tem want to create a "back east" "out west".

[nostatic]

one nice thing about LA...you can still find little bits of quiet if you know where to look.

But it really comes down to your "inner quiet". Find that, and the outside world doesn't really matter so much.

Oh, and if that doesn't work, valium is a good choice.

[Dantilla]

I crave solitude sometimes. I usually get it by flying my little airplane for a bit, or a hike in the mountains.

Never with chemicals. I can't stand it when my brain is at less than full capacity. I've never understood "recreational" drug use.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I just went camping up in the Cascades. Beautiful place, quiet.

[VINMAN]

Originally posted by Dantilla
I crave solitude sometimes. I usually get it by flying my little airplane for a bit, or a hike in the mountains.

About 2 yrs ago I was up in New Hampshire backpacking. I stopped by this one waterfall to lay on my pack, relax a little bit and enjoy the tranquillity. There was about eight other people there doing the same thing. Next thing you know, a cell phone rings! Guy gets on, he starts yapping in a nice loud voice" Hi, I'm out here in the woods its great, nice to get away from everything". I jumped up, tossed on my pack walked right over to him. Got in his face and told him. "Thanks moron, you just ruined my F*#kin day!! A bunch of the other people clapped. Him and his wife/ gf or whatever just looked at me with thier jaws hangin.

People are clueless...

[Moneyguy1]

Technology is a two edged sword...It makes it possible to research information in minutes that previously took hours or days in a library. It also makes for inconsiderate people with ghetto blasters, cell phones, and even worse, allows people to steal your identity and your assets.

What is it with cell phones? Are some people afraid to be alone with their own thoughts?

[VINMAN]

Originally posted by Moneyguy1

What is it with cell phones? Are some people afraid to be alone with their own thoughts?

The cell phone has basically created a whole new level of rudeness and arrogance.

[Icemaster]

Originally posted by VINMAN
The cell phone has basically created a whole new level of rudeness and arrogance.

People like this either THINK they are so important they must be reachable anywhere, or want everyone else to think they are.

[pwd72s]

Before her MS really kicked in, Cindy & I would backpack into wilderness areas. At one lake, there was a flock of unruly teens who had ridden dirt bikes (motorcyles) into a wilderness area. I didn't get in their faces as they treated us to the 2 cycle sounds...nope. Cindy & I packed up and left at first light the next morn, these punks snoring loudly in their tents. I smiled at the thought of them pushing their bikes along a few miles of hiking trail, four plug wires snugly packed away in my backpack...The pliers I used for removing hot objects from the cooking fire had a great set of wire cutters...

[livi]

Worthy of an honorary membership in WWF !

[Tobra]

Originally posted by VINMAN
The cell phone has basically created a whole new level of rudeness and arrogance.

No, it has just made it more evident...

I like the mountains myself, the beach is too easy to drive to for the great unwashed masses of the world

[Mr_Wizard]

That is why I have a acre for a back yard, a pool, and a big dog to keep the undesirables out.

[Moses]

Drift boat fly fishing is one of the most magnificent ways to enjoy the wilderness. A motorless drift boat holds two fly fishermen, one fore one aft, and an oarsman (guide) in the middle. It is quiet, beautiful and overpoweringly peaceful.



This story was told to me by a guide on Montanas Blackfoot river; Two businessmen had hired a guide and driftboat for a day on the Blackfoot. One of the men chatted about work incessantly and constantly checked his cell phone for a signal. As they drifted toward a stretch of river called The Cathedral, named for the towering granite walls that line both banks of the river, the guy found the cell signal he was looking for. He placed a call, barking loudly into the phone as they drifted through the most beautiful stretch of the Blackfoot. After the call was ended, the mans friend asked if he could borrow his phone. He took the phone and immediately tossed it into the river. He said, "I'll buy you a new one when we get back."

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
It is harder and harder to find solitude.

That's because...as long as sex is more popular than death, we're gonna have a population problem!

[Oh Haha]

I just spent the weekend at a nice lake with family. It is an island with about 20 cottages around it. I actually relaxed and played like a little kid for the whoel time. The water was nice and warm and the breeze was blowing gently. Although we were only about 15 miles from a major city, it is very quiet and tranquil here. My BIL works in Chicago and this was where his Grandad built this get away almost 60 years ago. His father lived here yearround until he passed a couple of years ago. (Yes, my cell phone was with us but I left it in the cottage and only checked it when we came in to eat.) I need to be available for emergencys for work.
The best part was sitting by the fire after dark and my 2 year old son , Jacob, falling alseep in my arms. We don't usually have the opportunity to do this at home. All the while, the folks around the island were lighting off fireworks in a battle of sorts with each other.
I think I could retire to a place like this someday.

The other best part is that is only 5 miles form Gingerman Raceway where the PCA had it's annual race this weekend. Yes, you can faintly hear the flat sixes wailing across the lake. Awesome!!!!!

[svandamme]

Originally posted by pwd72s
That's because...as long as sex is more popular than death, we're gonna have a population problem!

it's not sex vs death
it's death vs science vs nature

it's not that we make more babies then we used to
on the contrary , most families now have less kids
i'ts just that they survive, and live longer
the generations stack up instead of playing tag... having a greatgreatgrandfather is not that exceptional anymore

i'm sure nature will set the balance straight... sooner or later...
a big ass comet, a global killer , or the super tsunami from the Canary islands, ice caps melting , water levels rising , or climate going totally bonkers..., i'de call it "poetic justice"

[Aurel]

Common guys, there is still plenty of wilderness to enjoy some solitude. Last week, I had to drive from New-Jersey to Penn State, and once I passed the Delaware, It sure looked like lots of empty space and forrests without too many people. Now, few years of living in NJ may have lowered my expectations as far as solitude goes...

Aurel

[artplumber]

Markus,
That's actually one of the benefits of golfing, especially at a club. Usually, can exclude most of the obnoxious and be in a fairly quiet place. Sound too elitist? Oh well. Now I choose to get away in different ways - golf was too boring and frankly too much competition for those times when you want to be alone.

Honestly, the one of the biggest benefits of living in the US is that it's much easier to escape to peopleless places.