It just occurred to me that I've been very rude in posting to this list
without first introducing myself.
I subscribed to the list initially because the name extropian appealed to me
in the same way as the idea of multi-directional time travel. I've lurked
around for a while, fascinated by the many topics discussed and also the
sense of humor. The fruits-are-nuts thread was great!
I don't know what my IQ is, but I've taken tests, many years ago. I
remember being told that I was eligible to join some group called the Three
Sigma Club or something like that. I never looked into it, but I got the
impression it was sort of like Mensa except more elitest. You had to have
an IQ 3 standard deviations above the mean. I don't know whether such a club
actually exists.
Six years ago I took up a forager/low-key horticultural lifestyle so that I
could study, read, and write what I was interested in without having to
worry about making more than enough money to buy a few toys I occassionally
want, like computer equipment, photovoltaics. I live in a house I built from
homemade adobe bricks. I've had great fun devising a water-delivery system,
electrical system, and so forth. I find the lifestyle to be quite pleasant,
and the garden, woods, and fields themselves are endless sources of wonder
(as are city streets, alleys, and vacant lots, for that matter). I learn at
least 5 or 6 new things each day in the garden and many more from reading.
>From the latest neurological research I've read, this constant exposure to
new ideas should keep my mind agile into my old age. Most important as far
as I'm concerned, I'm eager to get up and start each day, and I sleep well
at night, and eat very well indeed. The bit about agribusiness being
necessary to feed the world and growing food requiring back-breaking labor
are myths, nothing more--very potent myths, since food is such a basic
necessity.
I think I'd rather have my memories transferred to a new body (or a machine)
rather than keeping the one I have now indefinitely. It's not that the one I
have now isn't a good one. Everything on it works pretty well, except that
its nasal sinuses get clogged up with snot when there are certain pollens,
molds, & stuff like that in the air. But I think it would be far more
interesting to have an assortment of bodies over the long haul than to be
stuck with just one.
So, thank you for having me on your list. I have a web site, but I sort of
doubt that anyone on this list would be interested in it. It's mostly about
gardening, building cisterns, etc. But to complete my introduction, here's
the URL: http://www.altamira.addr.com
Bonnie
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