After metaphorically meandering through Kansas, while we actually drove right through it we passed through Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico, and finally made it to Arizona—our destination.

We met the owners of the home we were renting who filled us in about how the house worked, gave us the keys, and we were ready to get at it. So what did we do? Absolutely nothing. Well we bought important supplies, including Zaya rum that here is priced like an ordinary rum while in Canada it is priced like a premium rum. Why is that? Now we were ready.

The morning felt great. For the first time in nearly a week we had no moving plans. We could sleep as long as we wanted to. Of course, by then I was in the habit of getting up early and could not get out of it. We decided to do something revolutionary. Sit and read! Fantastic. This was a great luxury.  This was the benefit of retirement and visiting a place like Arizona. We could read and relax. And we did.

Western civilization is not in decline. It is alive and well.