In a long-ago class in animal behavior, I learned that some animals—probably mice—have alternative alleles in their genome, variations that affect a facet of their behavior. Individuals that inherit one of the variations (“settlers”) tend to settle down and exploit their home environment; individuals that inherit the other (“explorers”) tend to move on and explore new territories. There are obvious advantages for the species as a whole: The settlers can make maximum use of their current environment; the explorers can extend the group’s range if they have the right adaptations for it. It is a good example of Darwinian selection.
Humans, too, seem
to fall into these two broad categories. In U.S. history, some immigrants from
Europe settled down on the east coast while others moved on to the Midwest.
Later, some of the more adventurous went farther west. Eventually, some reached
California, with the Pacific Ocean being a natural boundary. Today immigrants
from Asia and Central America are repeating the pattern in the opposite
direction.
I may be more the
explorer type. After growing up in the Midwest, then trying but rejecting life
in New York, I moved to California. I love this state, and actually settled for
25 years in the San Francisco Bay area before moving to the Sierras, but now it
may be time to move on. El Dorado County has only limited charms, and there is
still so much to explore.
When I go back to
school reunions in Michigan, I am struck by the difference between myself and
some of my old classmates. Some of them have stayed on family farms that were
prosperous in the past, where their ancestors were important community members.
Today large agribusinesses are taking over, and the family farms are
disappearing. The “settlers” now find themselves struggling for survival in a
much-changed environment.
Other “settlers”
have been more fortunate. Not being tied to the land, they have thrived in
their professions, established families, and been good citizens. Their lives
have been more stable than mine, and possibly more rewarding. I sometimes envy
them and wonder if my drifting lifestyle has been a mistake, but I don’t think
so. Each place where I have lived has brought new adventures and new
opportunities. My RV life has been the latest episode in a life that has
sometimes been difficult, but has never been boring.
So, whether I
stay in El Dorado County or not, I am going to move on in one respect. For the
past two years, I have blogged as the rovin’ crone. Blogging has been a new and
pleasant experience, but I feel I have little more to say about RVing. Probably
I will begin a new blog soon, on other subjects and under a new name. When I
do, a final post here will give the details.
Many thanks to
those who have commented here or in emails! You have helped make blogging a
rewarding pastime.
