Escaping the Race, finding comfort

Recently visiting a remote part of Texas, I enjoyed conversations with several local residents. I set out to learn how long they had lived in their locale, what brought them to the area, and any plans for the future. Unlike those in cosmopolitan and urban areas, people seemed comfortable with their environment and lacking in direct and dramatic goals, at least from my goal-oriented perspective. They did not seem overtly happier than their counterparts but they did seem somehow more content in general. Although difficult to define objectively, they did appear to be comfortable with themselves. Many of them had lived there several years, some since birth, others recently arrived. Mostly they loved their world and were not anxious to leave it.

Simpler is the word that we use to describe a life portrayed on the Andy Griffith show or Leave It to Beaver but I am not sure simpler is the right word. After all, no human being I have ever met is "simple" and no life I know is without goals. A surgeon may have goals we deem as profound but are they any more significant that one's own life goals? In other words, the perception we tend to have of ourselves is that our lives are generally complicated.

That said, it is true that the race for acceptance, for money, for status, for constant improvement is negligible in remote parts of Texas. I found it refreshing. No discussions about the stock market, about serving on boards, about the problems of the educational system or the judicial system and, amazingly enough, very few political discussions or religious disagreements. Most conversations dealt with the immediate issues such as the weather or the traffic (funny!) or the local environment including animals, trails, even the pollutants in the air. There were brief mentions of food and some talk about road conditions related to dirt or pavement. In general most discussions were rather mundane at least by my standards. Yet I liked it.

I can understand the need to escape the race, to find solace in nature, to think freely and act without societal constraints. There is comfort in low pressure situations and joy to be found in low expectations. Not that life is normally filled with pressure to succeed but it is nice to give it no thought whatsoever.

Now back to the race and the goal to win. But on the horizon is not a pot of gold, for the pot of gold is found within ourselves. To those who live in small remote towns, stay and enjoy. I may join you one of these days!