Welcome: The Doctor Emerges From the Woods

Why a blog?

I think in all mankind, there is an inner need for lifelong outlets – and only then do we find satisfaction.  For some, it is their work – and they immerse themselves in it until death.  For others, their childhood play never ceases, and they live a full life of adult play (their work is only a resource to buy their playtime).  I believe the majority of humankind fall into either of these categories, and as a result, are fortunate – for their inner and outer selves are in sync.  I am not so fortunate, because I fall into neither.

I spent my work life in health-care administration – and while it was interesting and satisfying, I was always happiest when weekends came.  I doubt my peers would have dubbed me a workaholic.  However, I didn’t live for playtime either, not because I didn’t have any play interests, but because I always had too many.  I realized early on that my myriad interests were far too many, and my attention span far too short, to pursue any interests in depth – I knew I would spend my entire life knowing a tiny bit about many things.

I thought perhaps retirement would change some of this.  My thoughts would wander over the prospect of halcyon days where I would finally have soooo much time, that finally I’d be able immerse myself in those many interests to my heart’s delight!  Nope.  What it did do was to allow me to delve into many new interests, and to learn more bits and pieces to add to my generalist knowledge bank – and to recognize that I am just not one of those people who have the ability to develop an avocational expertise in any of my many interests.

One of the many things I have engaged in since my retirement is web writing.  I have learned that there are many kinds of web writing, and I tried my hand at a few.  I did some “how-to” articles for a few sites, but I tired of the restrictive nature of the format which they force on their contributors.  I even found myself being rejected by Suite 101- they told me I had to write my food articles in a “journalistic, 3rd person style”, and I replied that I could not do that, since cooking for me was a very personalized endeavor and needed a personalized writing style as well.  They accused me of using a “blogging” style, and I thought, If that’s so, then perhaps I need to start blogging.   And so, …

What do I think I’ll find by blogging?  Mostly, I seek outlets for my many interests.  If I can share my thoughts with like-minded souls, and add new pieces as I go, I’ll be feeding my inner self and adding to my experience and knowledge bank.  What better use of one’s retirement?  But most of all, I hope for the satisfaction of good discussion and good sharing.  Maybe then, drfugawe will find himself.

Drfugawe resides in Coquille, Oregon, in the southwest coastal corner of the state – where summers are fantastic and winters depressing; either is occasionally worthy of discussion.  Come, join the doctor …