Seasonal Paradise

Exohiker

Dear Santa, I've been a good boy all year, and would like one of these for Xmas so I can carry Sasha on my back to school each day.  She's getting a little heavy now.

Blue

I'm on a two week, seven city tour, and I miss my girls. I just came across this pic from May 2009. Sasha has really changed and both Victoria and Sasha are sprouting characters. I'm back on Saturday.  

We're All F*&^%ed, Unless...

We're F*&^%ed... If you believe what whistleblower Michael Ruppert (book: Confronting Collapse), and Matt Savinar (lifeaftertheoilcrash.net), and Cal Tech physicist David Goodstein (book: Out Of Gas) have to say about us passing our peak of oil production (in 2005) and this leading to our demise and that the end of civilization is due sometime this century because of the lack of power to support the human race ...Then we're kinda screwed. Not to mention the problem of global warming, water and food shortages.

I've been thinking about this over the last few days. Poor Sasha and Victoria.

But Irena and I have faith in the ingenuity of mankind. At the same time that we're running out of resources, we're building our life spans, markedly. Futurists Kurzweil and Grossman (book: Transcend – nine steps to living well forever) tell us that we should be able to extend our lives to hundreds of years, from the gene-therapy and nano-technology that will be rapidly developed in the next 25 years.

OPEC is sitting on a trillion barrels of oil which accounts for about 75% of the planet's supply. We're using upwards of 35 billion barrels a year. So sometime in the next 10 years the human race will finally 'get it' and understand that the game is up as far as oil is concerned, and some degree of panic will set in, which should wreck the financial markets. Growth can't occur without our power needs being met. The world population has boomed in the last century because of the proliferation of oil as a power source, and as a key ingredient in most of the consumer goods we consume and distribute around the globe.

Unless... It seems our best hope is in the work that is being done at Lawrence Livermore labs. (thanks for forwarding this to me Kevin, it made my year). By 2012 we should realize Nuclear Fusion. This just blows my mind! I just hope, we don't blow the planet up in the process. Even 'do no evil' Google is seeing the light, and has taken it upon themselves to invest $200 million into off-coast wind farms.

The other key to getting over oil, is getting local. Real local. And lowering our ridiculously insatiable consumerism. Ultimately, humans stand to gain from consuming less, and enjoying their local communities and resources more. We can stand to drive less, use public transportation more, and buy and live more locally. The developing world is less happy, less locally 'involved,' and more transient than ever before in history. As resources become depleted, it will force us to become more locally ingrained, and I think happier as a consequence. Those who do not find and foster more local ties, will simply perish, if Ruppert is right?

Irena and I are helping out by...

• Not having a car: we walk, cycle and use taxis and planes and buses

• Consuming locally grown goods and food as much as possible

• Wanting for little, but having everything we want, living (somewhat) minimally

• Using a distributed work force for our company, Courtland Brooks, zero commutes for everyone!

We're NOT helping out by...

• Consuming too much power, especially air conditioning: its hot in Malta!

• Flying frequently

We plan on doing better in the future by...

• Losing 10-20lbs body weight so we don't feel so hot in the summers and don't need quite so much air conditioning

• Condensing our travels so we cover more ground with less round trip flights. e.g. I'm visiting London, Toronto, L.A., San Fran, Dallas, Miami, Tampa, London, on a trip starting Thursday. Then we're staying put until the January iDate conference. Then April, then June. Sheesh, I guess we do travel a fair amount. What to do? Carbon offsets?

I still feel this is all rather feeble. What else can we do? What else can YOU do?

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is a must-see in Rome. Perfect for a bottle of champagne just before lunch. (we didn't do that this time, but will, next time).  

Wake Up! We're Going To Rome

At 7:10am Irena woke me up. "Get your clothes on, the taxi is here,
we're going...but I'm not telling you where." I jumped in the taxi 10
minutes later. It wasn't until we got to the airport that I realized
we were going off-island. To Rome. A little birthday trip.

The first stop was the amazing Colosseum. Did you know, 700k people
died there in 450 years. No wonder 2/3 of the outer walls were
removed to build St Peters. This was hardly a place to be
particularly celebrated by the Catholic church in the 1500's. Far
better to hack some of it away for a better cause. Still, its an
amazing site.

1885 Years Old And Intact - Rome's Panthenon

Simply the most magnificent building we've ever laid our eyes on.  We dined in the Panthenon square at dusk and enjoyed good food, a nice bottle of red wine, and the best service we've ever had.  We'll be back one day.  

 

Birthday Cigarro

Taking in my favorite Ardbeg whiskey and cigar, just prior to my
birthday, in Malta.

Barcelona (lively) Seafood

The seafood in Barcelona is great but I'm seriously considering going
vegetarian again after this little guy proved his fighting spirit and
gave me a right hook onto the nostrils. Luckily Andreas was able to
pry him away.

Out Of Control In Barcelona

After a night out on the town in Barcelona, we bumped into Ed Kunkel
and his cohort in Barcelona. Justin struck up a friendly accord with
a pirate, but then tried to rename him. After an altercation and a
sword fight (the pirate had a sword, really!) they came to an amicable
agreement, and the bar settled down again, for about 10 minutes.

Paris Tour Guide @ The Louvre

This characterful tour guide was just a hoot.  What a great character.

 

Paris iDate, View from Concorde Hotel

It was a dream to go to Paris with Irena, and see Notre Dame, and the
Eiffel Tower and take a tour of The Louvre. We went to the top of the
Concorde Hotel, the venue for iDate Paris, and the IDEA mixer, and met
with some friends after the conference. The view is the best in
Paris.

Mothers Sewing Machine

While we were in Victoria, mum mentioned she missed sewing, so we picked up this all singing, all dancing sewing machine for her.  Mum has a hard time with computers and can't understand how we find them so easy to work with.  We haven't got the slightest clue how to operate her sewing machine.  Within a couple of days she had this machine dancing.

Dad, Hi To Sasha

Its taken a long while to be quite able to post this.  This is one of the few videos I have of my dad.  This was taken September 28th, 2008, three months before he passed away.  Sasha was born the month prior.  He did get to meet her, but had a hard time holding her because his heart was quite fragile by January.

 

He had a quadruple heart bypass ten years prior, after years of smoking.  Dad was a navigator in the Air Force on Vulcan jet bombers, and then went on to work as an air traffic controller, and then lived in Abu Dhabi and became a wealth planner for expatriates.  He did a generally sucky job of bring up his 3 daughters and son (that's me), but still managed to garner our love and admiration for his perfect charm, gentlemanly composure and rather unflappable temperament.   

Modern Maltese Falcon

Here's a modern day Maltese Falcon. This man was in a car park with
his pet Maltese Falcon.

Dan Buettner: How to Live To Be 100+

I recently read 'The Blue Zones.' Dan Buettner, the author, spoke at TED and summarized the 9 things he'd learned that centenarians do around the world. Here they are:

1. Move naturally, set up your life so you're constantly nudged into physical activity. i.e. take stairs, walk, garden!
2. Take time to downshift. i.e. pray, relax, don't hurry, don't stress, take a siesta 15 mins a day
3. Find a sense of purpose. 
4. Drink a little
5. Mainly eat plants, beans and nuts
6. Stop eating when you reach 80% full
7. Put your family first
8. Belong to a community. i.e. faith based
9. Find your right tribe. i.e. hang out with healthy people that you trust

Play-Doh

We left Sasha alone for half an hour, and were impressed with her handywork.

Irena, Monika and Victoria, at Tigne

Sasha, Playing With Fountains At Tigne Point, Malta

 

Birthday Party At Cioconat in Malta

 

Happy 2nd Birthday! Alexandra Anita Brooks

 

Irena and Monika (sister)

 

Birthday Sasha - Doll

Sasha's takes to her new baby, and feeds her. We're betting she'll make a great momma one day.  

Martin, Monika and Victoria

Monika, Martin, and Martin jr visited Malta for Sasha's birthday.

Blue Eyes

 

Kung Fu Training

Stretching before we start our kung fu training lessons. Sasha is 2. Its never too early to kick some ass.  

Stockholm Boat For Sale

In early August I paid OculusAI a visit in Stockholm. I took a rainy walk around Stockholm, and discovered a lineup of old classic boats, many of which were 80-100 years old. Some were for sale. The little sign on this poor little boat indicated it was for sale. I think we could afford this one. What do you think Irena?

Kon-Tiki Museum

I remember reading and being inspired by the Kon-Tiki story, as a kid. So it was a real thrill to visit the Kon-Tiki museum in Oslo in early August. In 1947, Thor Heyerdahl and his international crew set off from Peru, and landed in the Polynesian Islands 101 days and 4300 miles later. Thor wanted to prove that Polynesia was settled by South Americans using simple balsa-log boats.

Sasha At Maltese Daycare

 

Sasha And Victoria At Malta Intercontinental

Heading out hunting for apartments, just after our arrival in Malta.

But Will It Make You Happy?

New studies of consumption and happiness show that people are happier when they spend money on experiences instead of material objects.

Emboldened by a Web site that challenges consumers to live with just 100 personal items, Ms. Strobel winnowed down her wardrobe and toiletries to precisely that number.  Today, her husband, Mr. Smith is completing a doctorate in physiology; Ms. Strobel happily works from home as a Web designer and freelance writer.  Income of ~$24k covers their bills. They're car-free but have bikes.  “I really believe that the acquisition of material goods doesn’t bring about happiness.”

“We’re moving from a conspicuous consumption — which is ‘buy without regard’ — to a calculated consumption,” says Marshal Cohen, an analyst at a retailing research firm.  Consumers saved 6.4% of their after-tax income in June. Before the recession, the rate was 1% to 2%.

“We buy a new house, we get accustomed to it,” says Professor Lyubomirsky, who studies “hedonic adaptation,” a phenomenon in which people quickly become used to changes, great or terrible, in order to maintain a stable level of happiness.  Over time, that means the buzz from a new purchase is pushed toward the emotional norm.  “We stop getting pleasure from it,” she says.  And then, of course, we buy new things.

Ms. Strobel, our heroine who moved into a 400-sq ft apartment, is now an advocate of simple living, writing in her spare time about her own life choices at Rowdykittens.com. 
FULL ARTICLE @ NY TIMES

Mark Brooks: Pigeons and whales.  I'm sometimes jealous of them.  They live simple lives with zero belongings.  They look happy enough.  I wonder if they think humans are silly?  Irena, Sasha, Victoria and I are car-less, and can fit most of our belongings into 4 suit cases now.  I realized 15 years ago that true happiness and fulfillment is in the experiential.  Everything else is mental chaff.  The things you own, end up owning you. 

Longevity Design - 25 Steps To An Extended Youth

If you want to live to 95 and still be as spritely as Jack Lalanne, here's what you need to do, per the book The Longevity Prescription.

1. Eat minimal saturated fats. Eat 2-4 servings of fruit and 3-5 veggies, and unprocessed grains, beans or other fiber-rich foods daily.
2. Exercise 5x a week: 2 resistance + 3 aerobic sessions
3. BMI under 25.
4. Sleep soundly 7-8 hours a night and nap 20-30 mins a day.
5. Be in a marriage with someone you trust and love and are intimate with.
6. Get on with your kids, siblings and extended family.
7. Maintain active long term friendships with people you care about.
8. Interact daily with people, in person, by phone and online. Go out 3x a week with friends or family.
9. Make 1+ new friend a year, and communicate regularly with them.
10. Avoid depression and anxiety, don't relive unhappy moments and maintain a hopeful attitude for the future.
11. Challenge yourself to learn new things.
12. Keep up with events, consume media, and know what's going on in your community.
13. Find simple joys in life, and laugh heartily.
14. Stretch your mental muscles regularly; reading, games.
15. Don't harbor grievances, adapt, accept losses and look to new challenges.
16. Employ stress reduction strategies; yoga, golf, meditation etc.
17. Recognize the good in aging; wisdom, experience, perspective and patience.
18. See the doctor regularly for checkups and tests.
19. Take a multivitamin and a children's aspirin daily (81mg).
20. Take prescribed medication as directed.
21. Do self-exams; breast and testicular lumps, moles and birthmarks
22. Get glasses or a hearing aid if you need them.
23. Wear a seatbelt and bicycle helmet and use sunblock.
24. Don't smoke.
25. Drink alcohol only in moderation; men 3 oz, women 1.5 oz a day.

I've read a few books on this subject now, and this sums up the best knowledge we have so far. As much as this is a recipe for longevity, its also a GREAT recipe for an enjoyable life. The point here is youth extension, as much as life extension. There's a big difference. Who cares about living to 90 if the last 20 years find you fighting illness constantly. Live life like LaLanne, actively, with purpose and with people who you love around you.

Here's some more advice from Methuselah Foundation longevity experts.

Queen Victoria Elizabeth Brooks

 

Shannon Oaks Biking Event

Mum enjoyed a ride around the block, at the Shannon Oaks annual biking event.

Heroes: Jack LaLanne

In 1936 Jack opened a gym, and grew his company to 200+ gyms which became Bally's.  Here's Jack in his show from the 50's.  

and here he is at 95.

and here's a great article on him in Washington Post.

He's an inspiration.  I love his energy and passion for helping people find health and fitness.  He's one of my heroes. 

Our New Apartment in Malta

We found a wonderful place on the water in Sliema.