- I sold the cows in June 2025, seven years and three months after my first cow/calf pair (Queen and Blossom) arrived on the farm. So it is a new era in my life. I miss them dreadfully, but I believe it was a good decision. I am comforted knowing they went to good farms.
- I continue to work for Flow Financial Planning, LLC. I've now been there for eight years.
- I spend most of my time on my family's small farm, where I work from home and try to keep up with all the tasks of maintaining just under three acres. The work load has lessened somewhat with no cows to tend.
- I continue to play the piano (and occasionally organ) for the Sunday worship service one to two times per month at Peace Lutheran Church in Silvana, Washington.
- In April 2026, it will have been nine years since I moved back to the Pacific Northwest after more than two decades in Southern California.
- Now that it's winter (and, again, no cows), I may start publishing blog posts more often here on Bear. I really like Bear; it has just the right level of DIY and reminds me of when I started blogging back in August 2001 (over 24 years ago now!). Then I had to learn the basics of html; now I am learning the basics of markdown.
- I go through different phases of what I watch and listen to on YouTube. Here are some recent favorites:
- Nate Hagens of The Great Simplification. Excellent topics and guests. Polished, articulate interviewing. No ads because the podcast is underwritten by the sponsoring nonprofit.
- The New Enlightenment with Ashley
- Doomer Optimism
- Just a Few Acres Farm
- Some of the many email newsletters I'm subscribed to:
- Field Notes from Christopher Brown.
- The China We Never Knew from Dan Reid.
- The Bookshelf, by Tim Hoiland, a fellow MK (missionary kid).
- Theology & a Recipe, by Sarah Hinlicky Wilson.
- Front Porch Republic.
Now page inspired by Derek Sivers via James Altrucher.
Last updated: March 11, 2026