Go Thoreau at 30-something

Sometimes, in spite of my pretentions, I love discovering that I'm right in the flow things and not at all avant-garde. Only sometimes. This article on "adultesents" magages to discuss the economics of the "boomerang" generation (is that Gen-X, or the gen behind us, and how many names does my generation have now, like, what?, ten or so? -- O, how PoMo of us) and not just the (and I love this) "thumbsucking fecklessness" portrayed in films like Failure to Launch &c. I found it amusing since I'm about to retreat from a very comfy, adult-sized income at University Incorporated to an income of Zero, quite by choice and with much deliberation. And, yes, to move back into my parents' home on my eventual way to Something Better. Call it a self-funded sabbatical. My friend S also read it and moaned, in good Progressive style: "stop seeking only individual solutions to social problems." Here, here. Let's do both, lots more. Now, the other sign of serendipity is a new article in Harper's by my friend and former prof Curt White, who trucks not with sillyness. "The Spirit of Disobedience" (see, I adore this guy), is an examination of just how not-news is the Christianity v. Enlightenment split (duh), and some of the bad ideas and ideologies on both sides of the v., and an arguement that the middle way, the yet unexplored third road might be Thoreauian. All with a healthy dash of humor. Two fun things here: one, my move to the P's place will be Thoreauian in that my parents will play the role of Henry's sister Helen (support, food, company), and in that the homestead is actually smack next to a little pond in lovely countryside far from the maddening crowds and decent internet service. In short, I'm going Transcendentalist, just like I always secretly wanted to. Two: when CW was interviewed upon the publication of his recent monograph The Middle Mind on my local public radio station by the recently deceased and totally brilliant Glenn Mitchell, I called in and asked Dear Curt what his reponse to the problem would be. The problem of the moment of the "noise" and "distraction" of contemporary life and how that does not help people to really focus on anything that would expand either mind or soul. At the time, CW had no answer. He went back into criticism/problem mode and pissed me off. I'm Bored Stooooopid with the easy job of pointing out problems, and much more interested in trying out responses to the problems. Thus my PoMoRenaissance desideratum. Anyway, this article of his seems to be the answer to my question: how do we slow down and focus enough to expand mind and/or soul? And voila, Thoreau. Which I should have thought of my damn self. Now, I do NOT TAKE CREDIT for Curt's essay. No way. All I'm pointing out is the lovely serendipity of it. It answers my question. I'm sure he didn't even think about it. I tend to believe Serenediptiy. She's been kind to me. --- So, read up, if you have or are willing to make some time. There's more to both of these articles than just my egotistic response to them. There's brain food there.