by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

I spent a beautiful, wet, green Spring weekend with a lot of ah-ha’s. First, I found out that candlelight at night is really fun, especially playing board games (how did YOU spend Earth Hour on Saturday night?)

Second. Last night was our 4th meeting for Transition Culture planning and I learned that even realtors can do a lot to help move us towards environmentally conscious living/owning of properties…

…and third, that there are all different ages and kinds of people that are willing and ready to work towards Change for a more positive future.

But, more on that later - my biggest ah-ha was when I was biking home - it had gotten dark, the temperature had dropped, and in my “it’s Spring” excitement, I had not packed an extra coat. So, I was pedaling along, getting a little bit whiny about the cold wind whipping through my shirt and my positive mood from the meeting was feeling threatened. But then, as I rode along, I asked myself an important question, “Would I rather be anywhere else, or in a car right now? I immediatedly answered, “no”, even as I shivered as an extra cold gust came up. When I got home, it occurred to me:

There’s a fine line between whining and LIVING.

Help me think more about this. In the meantime, below is what last night’s group put together as a more detailed description of Transition Town process. Take a look below - and consider the possibility of your own town in “Transition”.