John & Anne Wiley

2012/04/06

Mixed

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,Relationships,SB Region — John @ 06:03

Flying on windy days is a mixed bag. If the wind is behind you, it provides somewhat of a “free” ride. Of course with a headwind, not so much. Another downside is that windy days are often, but not always, bumpy. Today we took off into a stiff headwind that changed abruptly soon after we took off. I was ready for it so no biggie, but the difference between wind direction on the ground and a few hundred feet up made for mixing. Translation: bumps. Anne used to get that look a cat wears while you’re giving it a bath. Now she usually doesn’t even notice. Today she was a little mixed at first, but quickly settled into enjoying the flight. Here’s one reason:

1303 Windy Devereaux

1303 Windy Devereaux

Windy days often bring clearer air and crisp colors like these. We enjoyed looking at everything even more than usual, if that’s possible.

1305 Coal Oil Point

1305 Coal Oil Point

We’ve flown past this point occasionally since it’s near the airport, but we saw it anew today. Maybe the clear air and bright colors of Spring helped us notice it more. The colors at the beach house ruin nearby seemed brighter too, telling tales of days long gone when craftsmen laid the stonework as gardeners planted the flowering trees and when couples sat cherishing quiet sunset moments together.

1306 Fun House

1306 Fun House

Many more recent stories too of college kids, parties, and tagging expeditions.

2012/04/05

Ambivalence

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 02:34

Looking at this pic, I experience ambivalence.

1088 One/Ninety-nine

1088 One/Ninety-nine

I love the green expanse of the golf course at the left, but feel some concern about water and fertilizer use. I think about the “1%” who can afford the astounding rates at the resort hotel on the right, but have greatly enjoyed the free public “raptor show” they sponsor near the pool. Between is a relaxing open area where we’ve enjoyed strolling quiet treed walkways, a creek, and a lovely beach. Moments before passing this scene we climbed out of the airport over this familiar place.

1083 Corner Store

1083 Corner Store

This is one of the few “big box” stores we frequent. While we like the prices and return policy, we feel concern for the local small businesses it has displaced. Though their products often seem “over-packaged” to us, resulting in lots of trash that’s difficult to recycle, check out all the solar panels on the roof.

To me, ambivalence is a Very Good Thing. When I feel none, it’s probably a sign that I’m not paying attention to the full spectrum. If I feel too much, it’s probably because I’ve lost sight of a question that according to one of my fave scholars is found in various forms in all the major spiritual traditions of the world: “What difference will this make in 1,000 years?” By then, maybe our descendents will know the outcomes of the global experiments our species is currently conducting. Perhaps it’s fortunate that my ambivalence is greatly soothed by a few minutes of fossil fuel consumption taking in scenes like these.

2012/04/01

Around Home

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 06:10

We spent today around home, and looking at pix from recent flights this one inspired what seemed an apt title. For years I’ve been intrigued by a round home near Gibraltar Road. Since childhood I’ve been fascinated by high places with windows. One of the earliest family homes I remember had a bay window with a view down a small hill toward a small town. The main attraction of castles for me, was high turrets. Soon after moving to SB and long before starting flying lessons, I discovered this round home and imagined the view.

0791 A Round Home

0791 A Round Home

Not only do residents here have a commanding view in every direction, they can probably go up into that turret for an even better one. While we have an ever-changing mountain view that we quite enjoy, anyone hanging out around home in this round home is treated to a panoramic view from peaks to beaches and beyond. Of course, we get an even better view as we fly past with our little magic carpet. 🙂

2012/03/29

Carp Cloud Crag Color

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 01:01

Flying the hills above Carp, I enjoyed this little cloud that harkens back to lying on my back watching cloud shapes.

0757 Carp Cloud

0757 Carp Cloud

Nearby out the other window was this interesting crag sticking up out of the chaparral.

0763 Carp Crag

0763 Carp Crag

Though it might be less above Carp than above Summerland or Montecito, I had to follow the CC alliteration theme. 🙂

Anyway, this splash of color really stands out against the olive drab hills.

0768 Carp Color

0768 Carp Color

So much variety between and within flights. Every moment there’s a new pleasure or discovery, and without the camera we’d forget most of them. Kodak moments blend with all the ones we don’t snap, and soothe the soul.

2012/03/28

Detours

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 05:01

Sometimes I walk into the next room and forget why I went. Sometimes we start a conversation about something and end up talking about something completely different. Sometimes we plan a trip and find ourselves going in a completely different direction. Sometimes we take a brief flight over this town we’ve known and flown for years, and discover something completely new and unexpected. In fact, it happens on most flights. For example, I had no idea there’s a pair of brilliant blue and white buildings not far from our house.

0867 New Topic

0867 New Topic

From the air they were just unusual, blue and large. Looking at the full-res pic back at home, it’s easy to see this is a church and I correctly guessed from the architecture it’s Greek Orthodox. Looking it up on gMaps quickly confirmed that, and added the fact it’s named for “Saint Barbara” just like Our Town. Then I checked the name out on wiki, and what began by noticing an unusual blue building led to exploration of religious herstory. Lost in cyberia for a time, I learned a little about Valentinus, the torments of some venerated women named Barbara, and the explorer Sebastian Vizcaino, whose survival of a storm near here on Barbara’s feast day ultimately led to the name for our Mission and thus Our Town.

Detours can be fun. My goal is not only to “expect the unexpected,” but to embrace and explore it. Since every flight seems to bring plenty of invitations to detours, maybe flying could be described as an excellent opportunity for personal growth. 🙂

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