Personal Reflections 2024
Jan. 3rd, 2025 08:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tcpipMost years, my "annual review" consists of a single post. This year has required three and a half; a health update, a vocational update, an academic update, and this one. Even by my standards, 2024 was quite extraordinary. In February, I walked into my first committee meeting of the Australia-China Friendship Society state branch, walked out as president, and since then have been involved in several events related to that role. I've also continued as president of the libertarian-socialist Isocracy Network, whose website attracts critical articles from various sources. I travelled to Darwin twice, once for the ACFS National Conference (where I became a director), and on the second visit, I bought an apartment with Lara D. I travelled to Bali and Tibet, the latter including a visit to Qomolangma (aka Mount Everest). In virtual realities, I've continued as president of the RPG Review Cooperative, writing numerous articles and editing for our namesake journal. A related interest playtesting a new and insightful boardgame, "The Happiest Rat" and, for the first time in several years, adopting two new rats (Mayday and Mayhem) as companion animals who bring such joy with their antics.
Credit must go to my dearest and closest friends, who have kept me inspired and at least somewhat sane. Over the past year, this must include my stylish and honourable Lara D., the ever-loyal and steadfast Erica H., comrades and advisors Anthony L., and Robin M., the ever-effervescent Mel S., my old friends from Perth days Liana F., and Julie A., a colourful and enchanting newcomer Ruby M., my co-worker Dan T., the unexpected reappearance of an old friend, Kayo T, and my favourite Adelaide anarchist, Paula D. Yes, there is a notable and unintentional gender-bias among my nearest and dearest, but there have been many times that I have experienced the kindness and support from women in recent years. This said, two great men in my life, unfortunately, died this year: my mentor and close friend of almost forty years, Bruce Tapper, and shortly after that, fellow intellectual, SF aficionado and gamer Peter Lyons. Both those events were heartbreaking, and the fact that so many reached out to offer support and condolences has touched me deeply.
"A world without love would be no world", wrote Goethe in the "Roman Elegies". My most significant romantic experience this year was several months with a young woman of aesthetic inclinations. She came on pretty strong and early with some substantive propositions, and whilst I do believe in "à coup la foudre", my concerns were unfortunately prescient when she broke off our affair. I look back on this far-too-brief period with enormous gratitude and much wistfulness; mixed emotions are allowed, and this is not just a lament for a gem. She brought just the right level of wildness and whimsical humour to my life that elevated my persistent melancholy, and I believe I gave consistency and encouragement that she was a clever and creative person with a good heart. Such a statement is, of course, utterly sincere, but also comes from a place of critical and extensive lived experience. Nevertheless, in a year of so many successes, I cannot shake the feeling that this was my one tragic failure for the year. As The Bard quipped, the course never did run smooth.
Credit must go to my dearest and closest friends, who have kept me inspired and at least somewhat sane. Over the past year, this must include my stylish and honourable Lara D., the ever-loyal and steadfast Erica H., comrades and advisors Anthony L., and Robin M., the ever-effervescent Mel S., my old friends from Perth days Liana F., and Julie A., a colourful and enchanting newcomer Ruby M., my co-worker Dan T., the unexpected reappearance of an old friend, Kayo T, and my favourite Adelaide anarchist, Paula D. Yes, there is a notable and unintentional gender-bias among my nearest and dearest, but there have been many times that I have experienced the kindness and support from women in recent years. This said, two great men in my life, unfortunately, died this year: my mentor and close friend of almost forty years, Bruce Tapper, and shortly after that, fellow intellectual, SF aficionado and gamer Peter Lyons. Both those events were heartbreaking, and the fact that so many reached out to offer support and condolences has touched me deeply.
"A world without love would be no world", wrote Goethe in the "Roman Elegies". My most significant romantic experience this year was several months with a young woman of aesthetic inclinations. She came on pretty strong and early with some substantive propositions, and whilst I do believe in "à coup la foudre", my concerns were unfortunately prescient when she broke off our affair. I look back on this far-too-brief period with enormous gratitude and much wistfulness; mixed emotions are allowed, and this is not just a lament for a gem. She brought just the right level of wildness and whimsical humour to my life that elevated my persistent melancholy, and I believe I gave consistency and encouragement that she was a clever and creative person with a good heart. Such a statement is, of course, utterly sincere, but also comes from a place of critical and extensive lived experience. Nevertheless, in a year of so many successes, I cannot shake the feeling that this was my one tragic failure for the year. As The Bard quipped, the course never did run smooth.
