Of course I remain interested in what takes place publicly in Shorewood, in its street life and in the emanating aspects of social and political activities.

There are some parts of the world I'd like to visit again that are not on “travel film,” nor that can be experienced in a personal way. There are places that I'd like to revisit in Sweden, in England, in Italy and especially in London.

I'm interested in some new places, but I don't care to “travel” there by air today, but there are few other ways. Air travel presents images of the most unpleasant of circumstance,especially in relation to the events that  I could be experiencing here in Shorewood, near home.

Travel used to be more fun, when flying was fun. To put it simply, I hate airports and the anxiety of arriving at a specific time, not that punctuality makes much difference at airports anymore, especially after the established search processes.

I think that  what appears to me, as so many people, going wild in one large enclosed structure and the uncertainties of departures and connections and the concrete of the airport itself, this unidentified space and activity is what I really hate. It's far from a pleasant place of a peace loving human being, don't you think, Mr Johnson?  

I experienced concrete and asphalt fields serving with a troop carrier outfit during the war in Europe, where “hurry up and wait” was a common expression. Flying would be nice also, if one didn't have to have luggage, during the war, it was a packed parachute.  

How about it Mr. Johnson, if one were picked up in a limo, served exotic bits of food and drinks while driving to a very pleasant room at the airport, and then as though a guest at a party, boarding pleasantly at a rather leisurely pace and setting, we'd now have the beginnings of a pleasant trip, won't we? 

"If  your referring to me of course, if we didn't have assigned seats lined up in rows and all was first class and the service on board  excellent as in this dream and if one didn't have to sit next to someone, wouldn't that be grand? I'd prefer to stand most of the time while flying, much like at a cocktail party."

You of course we know,  Mr. Johnson, that some, not all of these services are still available to some. However, even first class is limited on some flights. If you're a billionaire, you can have you're own airplane. Even, if I were a billionaire, I'd still hate airports. And then there remain, all those concrete surfaces.

And after all the arranging, even when others are doing it for you, there's that feeling of being detached from your roots at this port of separation and then the sudden unfamiliarity at the port of destination after an unpleasant trip. These are not everyone's feeling, but they're mine.

These are some of the reasons, Mr. Johnson,  why family in California don't see much of me these days. Even a country or summer home in Wisconsin that involves too much car travel is not appealing anymore.

A friend used to fly me to a small town near a lake place in northern Wisconsin and then we'd transfer to a water plane and finally arrive at the lake and “land” on the water and at his pier.  It was all arranged, but I'd rather stay here close to Shorewood rather han take one more trip up there. Being in Shorewood is more fun than traveling, don't you think, Mr.Johnson?

"I believe that the airlines have too many customers to ever establish innovative ways of making travel pleasant again."