Acting in our best interest.

**The majority of this column was written nearly two years ago, however for a lot of reasons, has been updated and ready for publication now.**

Recently a friend of mine and I were talking about some changes in our area.  We have had three solar farms built recently and there is talk about a wind farm.

She brought up how wind turbines are responsible for killing birds.  That's a known fact that everyone can agree to, however exactly how many birds and what to do about the bird strikes is up for debate.  

This conversation tells us a bit about the type of people we want to be.  We are going to have to make trade offs in the future and we need to determine what those tradeoffs will be.  

Wind turbine's are constructed in a location that meets certain criteria to meet it's full effectiveness.  What happens if location X is also the breeding ground of a nearly extinct bird? 

Can they still breed if the tower, or solar panel or geothermal plant is erected nearby?  Is the need to maintain and keep this rare species of bird alive equal to or greater than the gains of green power?

Do we want cleaner renewable energy?  Or do we want to save a rare bird?  Can we do both?  

What tradeoffs are we willing to accept?  

What happens if we don't have a choice but to build in location X? Do we have that right to condemn a species to possible extinction?

These are questions that we have to ask ourselves because we are running out of food, energy, and our most precious product; time itself.  

I am a firm believer that people act in their own self interest, however that is generally a good thing. Lets return to my example of the bird.

When enough people believe that "the best way forward is XYZ"; which in this example would be renewable energy, is going to benefit them as an individual, change occurs.  Currently the majority of Americans support the move to renewable energy and back efforts to reduce climate change, the average American understands this is in their, and their offspring's, best interests and are motivated, to various degree's, to bring about this change.  

How we make that change happen is largely up to the individual.  

It is the choices that we make, serving our own self interest, that affect not only ourselves but our family's.  Our neighborhood, our country, our world.  The old phrase "Think globally but act locally" is more than just a simple slogan, it is a reminder that our actions, our self interest, have repercussions on a global scale. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Which brings me to my current crisis.   When acting in your best interests actually goes against what you fundamentally believe in.  

For example, I used to work from home.  That meant that my car sat for days at a time, and I was not contributing as much CO2 to the atmosphere as I do commuting back and forth to work five days out of the week.  I was able to eat quick and healthy foods, I had time to do things at the house.  I was doing what I could, where I could.

I've discovered that I'm either "overqualified" for jobs in my area or that my specialty is simply not in demand.  What work I have found is actually paying me less than my previous job was.  Which in turn has made me seek alternative sources of income, which in turn cuts into my time to do what I want.   The old work/life balance argument rears it ugly head. 

I am on the side of having more life.  

Due to circumstances beyond my control I've been forced to change work, to work for a lower pay.  While we have always lived below our means, the extra money we make allows for some bills to be paid, to save a bit here and there.

I've been forced to make adjustments in how I view the world.   

Susan and I were always very blessed, now we are starting to feel the pinch of inflation in our day to day lives, which frankly we were not before.  

Like I said, we have been very blessed.

Sadly America simply does not have the societal safety net that many of our European friends have.  

When I was writing this article, I was 58.   I didn't publish it for several reasons, but I'll be turning 60 in April.   I would like to eventually stop working, and honestly I would love to retire at 62 rather than 67.  Although I'll probably work till 70.  

I want to ensure that I have enough money to not only ensure that Susan and I live comfortably for the rest of our lives, but that Susan or I would continue to have a comfortable life if either of us passes.  

Keep in mind that America is a country where simple medications are often going to cost hundreds more than they would in Europe or Canada for example.  I'm not going to explore the reasons why here, but I do wish more Americans would realize that Socialized Medicine is in their best interests.  However, until they do we are stuck with what we got.   I continue to advocate for it.