My string of days off began with a bike ride, weightlifting, reading the New Yorker lazily on the sofa. A friend I hadn’t seen in years came over for coffee. We had reconnected after they received a life-altering diagnosis (something that is becoming more frequent among my peer group). Interestingly, health was a minor part of the overall conversation. It …
The Memory Dividend
Last week I listened to the latest podcast from the Mad Fientist, which was an interview of the author of the book, Die With Zero. The interview subject had the swagger of a Silicon Valley tech bro – typically an immediate turnoff in these sorts of interviews – but there was enough substance in the message that I tried not …
A Morning Of Abundance
I awoke with no alarm shortly after 5am today. A few stray beams of light crept into our bedroom at the edge of curtains and blinds, set to birdsong that was cheerful chaos. A chimney cap came off in a storm, so the Mockingbird that considers our house its territory likes to sing atop the chimney for maximum amplification within …
Intergenerational Friendships
In half an hour, I’m having coffee with a friend who is closing in on his 80th year. He’s a physician I respected back in the days when I was the voice in the middle of the night requesting his help in caring for a patient – always kind and good-humored, never shot the messenger. I’ve gotten to know him …
Second Chances
A morning worth remembering. Yesterday a large swell hit the coast. I woke up early (without an alarm!) and was one of the first handful of guys to paddle out at my local spot. It was a tough paddle, chest to head high, and unfortunately my leash broke before I made it into the lineup. I had only the one …
Diversifying My Portfolio
A little over two years ago I left clinical medicine completely for an administrative position involving population health. The position has been a wonderful Act Two that allows me to use my brain in new ways, problem solve creatively with a team I really appreciate, and is orders of magnitude less stressful than the emergency department. At the start of …
I Heard It Before I Saw It
I Heard It Before I Saw It It was a slightly overcast end to the day, an early evening on the coast. I was taking out the trash – the last thing I expected was a moment of wonder. Then I heard the call for the first time in a year – it could only be a hooded oriole. An …
Regression As Transgression
Spring Break this year constituted visits to family. The hazard with such visits is always trying to time the duration exactly right, long enough that the memories you make together lay a foundation for positive common experiences, short enough that you don’t regress to your worst childhood self. I used to be a squeeze every ounce together kind of guy, …
Reaching A Moving Goalpost
Figuring out your Number may lead to insomnia.Back around 2016, I read like crazy. I found and devoured the Mr. Money Mustache blog, and then had the uniquely ridiculous experience of citing the unusually named blog to completely serious friends during highly intellectual conversations. I consumed the Bogleheads book, routinely pored over the Bogleheads wiki, and researched relevant threads from …
Reflecting On Five Years Of Three Week Vacations
Six years ago I cut back drastically on my clinical shifts in the ED. I asked the person in charge of planning our schedule if I could batch my shifts such that it would allow me to travel for 3 weeks in the summer with family. I got the green light, and never looked back. When I reinvented my career …