IN SEARCH OF PRIVATE
… and privacy where few boundaries exist
Tuesday May 6, 2014
Yesterday was planned, organized. Adequate in terms of times and tasks, errands. A workout, time to work, to finish at civilized hour.
Derailed by actions of others. (note to self – don’t let that happen so often)
Maybe my expectations are too high.
I’ve recently moved-in, getting settled, into a supposedly welcoming place.
Not entirely my experience so far. Possibly the exceptions have been encountered – and then I can look forward to meeting the exceptional ones.
Most residents here are well above me in age. Strangely I see things like privacy, and respect for privacy of others to be far less evident than I see busy-body-ness, gossipy things.
I’ll have to get better at biting my tongue … or I could wear a muzzle.
Derailed composure, denied equilibrium, altered plans in Millrise … but managing!
The world is less private every day. More and more people know more and more and more and more people, more or less; mostly more.
I like this quote from a Google co-founder/CEO, “You have to fight for your privacy or you lost it.” – Eric Schmidt
Privacy and boundaries are similar but not identical.
Boundaries, both general or specific, set out what others are entitled to, or not, based on what I decide.
Privacy is what I decide I want for me, period.
I don’t keep a lot of secrets – perhaps a writer’s prerogative, a marketer’s reality – but I do keep private about many things with most people. That seems, perhaps, a contradiction to this daily piece that often reveals so much to friends, family and strangers alike. The closer the relationship, the fewer people – and the more shared/disclosed.
So, why do I rail against invasions of my life, my equilibrium? Is it privacy violation, or just a reaction to nosy-ness of those whose business it is not?
The notion of home ought to be tranquil, peaceful and private. Quiet in this place from 8PM to 8AM should, I have learned already, not be equated to people minding their own business.
I have a great story to tell of my first few days living here – not for publication just yet, but I sure would like to tell my dad . . .
Mark Kolke
P.S.: thanks Peter for your note. Sometimes the service system I use has glitches – always best to white-list addresses you want coming through ..
198,128
column written/ published from Calgary
morning walk: -1C/30F, light clouds, steady north breeze, slippery, Gusta learning a new route each day, sniffing out rabbits but this morning she seemed more interested in their droppings than actually chasing those bounders – perhaps her eyes aren’t working as well as her nose …
Reader feedback / comments always welcome:
Hey, no daily emails the last week or so? Good thing I have your website or else I'd be concerned. Have you quit sending them out via email or have I somehow dropped from the distribution list? Been on the distribution list for a very long time, P, ? .. P.S.: okay let's see what happens tomorrow. No you're not ending up in my spam folder. We're off to China for a couple weeks on Wednesday, be back May 23rd. Thanks for the prompt reply!
Funny, but now that you mention it, I see it is true, KK, Calgary AB
