Surf's Up

We’ve just had the Mavericks surf competition here in Northern California -- the first time in two years we’ve had waves sufficient to challenge the world-class competitors who come here when the conditions are right.  Some years, the waves are better than at others, but winning the competition is all about how well the surfers catch them. It’s a reminder to me of how life’s cycles work.

There’s a lot of optimism in the air right now, it seems. The troops are coming home, and we could very well be looking at a period of time when we’re not involved in a war. Housing starts are up, and home sales should have their best season in years with some of the lowest interest rates in history – as long as buyers qualify. The jobless rate is dropping; stocks are going up and 401ks are getting fatter. It seems almost inevitable that a down cycle reverses by itself, but we have our part in that process.

Some say that climate change is simply a natural cycle, but most scientists agree that we have our part to play there as well. In his inauguration speech, President Obama noted that the transition to sustainable energy sources would be a long and difficult path. But this transition is already underway, and he said that instead of trying to resist it, the United States has to lead it. He said that while freedom was a gift from God, we have to secure it here on Earth. The Declaration of Independence, to which he referred continually in his address, says that we have a right to life and liberty – but happiness is something we have to pursue.

A young woman I know is taking advantage of a personal “up” cycle. She is recovering from a long bout with a chronic illness, and thanks to the exploding housing market, she’ll be selling her small San Francisco Bay Area home at a substantial profit soon and moving to a Southern state where home prices – and taxes – are much lower. After visiting this new state and falling in love with a particular area, she knows this is the right move for her. I envy her her certainty about it. She’s pursuing her happiness, and if she finds things less than perfect when she arrives in her new home, she’s one who won’t rest until she makes up the difference.

Evolution is an irresistible process, and so, it seems, are the cycles of life. We’re definitely in an upswing, a moment of economic and political opportunity, as the President pointed out. Is this a window to end the paralyzing gridlock in Washington? The wave’s breaking, and let’s hope and pray that he and the Congress, and by extension, we the people (to refer to the Declaration again) have the sense to catch it.