Changing Seasons, Changing Creativity and Burning Man (Ulog no. 10)
It's quite late on this Labor Day weekend Sunday... or Monday, as it most likely is by now, in most parts of the world.
"Labor Day."
Northern sunset
That's a funny thing, really. Originally, it was created (in the 1880's) as a tribute to the achievements of workers in building the nation... but at some point, I guess it just changed over to being viewed as "the 3-day weekend we get at the beginning of September."
I was thinking about that, this afternoon... and realizing that I have never actually had the day off on Labor Day; having spent much of my life in some form of service or retail trade, it has actually marked a day of working extra, because other people were off.
There's a Wind Blowing
Labor Day weekend has long marked a sort of "change of seasons" for me. It's my birthday on August 30th, then Labor Day and then I feel like there's this subtle change in seasons to "fall."
A tiny flower
Yes, I realize fall doesn't formally start till September 21st, but there's still a change of seasons.
Sometimes — like right now — the change of seasons is a "real event." There's suddenly a sharp wind blowing and a coolness in the air we haven't seen since back in April. It came in very suddenly, this afternoon... taking with it a slight pervasive mugginess and the last remnant of smoke from regional forest fires.
It also made me reminisce about my many years of living in Central Texas and how Labor Day weekend marked the beginning of the possibility of cooler mornings, at the end of a long summer of relentless 100-degree (38+ C) days and 80-degree (26+ C) nights.
My buddy and I would usually golf in a fairly large Labor Day tournament back when I was in college and a few years after (before I started working all the time...) and on an occasional year or two we'd be greeted by a cooler morning... and it was cause for celebration!
And now there's a cool wind blowing again, right on cue, reminding me of the change of seasons.
Changing Creativity
The reason I bring up "creativity" is that this demarcation also seems to change my pattern of what I do, on a daily basis.
Late summer roses
Whereas I realize much of it is probably imaginary and arbitrary, I think it also has to do with the fact that the days are noticeably shorter now, so we tend to shift to doing more indoor activities because... well, it's just too dark to work outside much, after I get home from work.
And so, that means more time for writing; more time for indoor work; for working with artist endeavors and such.
For others, there are different "signals."
For example, I work with a lot of artists and creatives... and the "Burning Man" festival comes to a close this weekend, for many marking the end of "festival season," which also means a return to a "different phase" of life.
Meanwhile, this is also the starting point for Mrs. Denmarkguy and I to start ramping up preparations for upcoming holiday arts fairs we'll be attending. Much to be done!
And then, of course, I'm very hopeful that the last four months of this year will be as "kind" to the somewhat stagnant crypto markets as last year was! I think we can all use a little good cheer!
How about YOU? Are you feeling a "change of seasons" where you are? In terms of climate, or even just psychologically? Do you think the crypto markets will move up during the last four months of this year? Leave a comment-- share your experiences-- be part of the conversation!
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Yay! Glad to hear 🙂
I can’t stand the heat and humidity. I never want to go out and do anything when it feels so oppressive outside. So the cooler temps actually draw me outside more frequently, for walks or hikes or runs or just afternoons at the park. I love the Fall. Good riddance to Summer, I say 😛
That was one of the things I did NOT enjoy about living in Texas: It was HOT and often humid, from May till... often the end of September. I spent all summer inside, sitting in front of an A/C vent... and that was actually quite depressing.
I am definitely experiencing a change of seasons here although summer keeps coming back. We were on the beach again this weekend! 😁
There's also a change of seasons with my presence on Steemit lately too. i.e. I'm not here as much and, in fact, my posting all round is dwindling and dwindling.
i'm feeling that's it's maybe time for something new.
With regard the crypto markets I'm guessing it might be time for a change upwards. 😁
I've mostly noticed that the air has a "sharpness" in the morning when I take the dog out, and the shadows are "long" earlier in the day. It still gets hot in the afternoon... well, relatively speaking, Pacific Northwest style.
My activity here has dwindled a bit, too... mostly because I find myself having to spend more time than I used to, simply in pursuit of "making a living."
Will that start to lesson soon @denmarkguy, now the summer season is coming to an end?
I've been meaning to ask, did you find the changes to the street made any difference to your trade?
Sadly Gill, it's not going to lessen... it's simply the biproduct of what I call the "street level economy" being in dire straits. Or, phrased a little differently: It takes 2-3 more hours a week to make the same amount of money as we were making 3 years ago, and in the meantime, the cost of living has increased 10-15%. It's an economic equation that simply isn't working.
The street work was a disruption for seven months, and now we have a working solution, but they just sent out a notice that they have to start digging again for "Phase 2" to take down the utility poles and and put the remaining wiring underground, starting in October. So I'm basically getting prepared to having to work at "something else" to help underwrite what alleged is our "primary" source of income.
Hence, little time to hang out on Steemit, although I don't plan to abandon this place! This is still a great opportunity.
Do you have some ideas at what that "something else" work might be @denmarkguy. Having to increase your hours is not fun but maybe Steem will pick up. 😊
I've been burying my head in the sand a bit with our finances and really need to go and speak with an advisor but I keep putting it off. I'm just not interested in it but it has to be done. A bit like making a will. We managed to put that off for years!
I hope "Phase 2" is not too disruptive for you again.
What kind of things do you craft/art for the shows? My wife and I are also crafters/artists and are ramping up for the holiday season. :)
I paint intricate mandala paintings on beach combed stones (like the photo below) and my wife makes sewn a modeled faeries and other whimsical creatures.
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I feel that autumn has come. The weather is getting cold.
I think that the crypto markets will begin to grow. People need to save and increase their money.
The first cool mornings, yes.
I think now that summer holidays are over, people are more likely to start looking at investments — including the crypto markets — again.
Very sweet @steemeow!
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