the art of geezer walking

Since I am a bonafide Geezer, having been dubbed this by an irate man some time ago, I feel that I am qualified to make some remarks on the art of Geezer walking. 

You can be a Geezer regardless of your age. One requirement is that you not take yourself too seriously. So most anyone can do the Geezer walk.

Some guidelines (no rules; Geezers do not care for rules nor abide by them) are:

·      Choose asphalt over concrete, dirt over asphalt. It’s easier to let flowers bloom in your footsteps with dirt, though concrete may need it more.

·      Choose neighborhood streets over traffic stream streets. With traffic stream streets, it is too easy to get irritated at the constant engine roar and tire-whir noise and/or fall into pity and depression for all those poor folk locked away in their mobile cubicles. Of course, if you are a Zen Marine, you will welcome this opportunity to practice deep meditation.

·      Choose back alleys over neighborhood streets. Man! The sights you see!

·      Take a new route, rather than an old route. The reasons are obvious.

·      Always return a different way. Walk the unexpected, unpredictable.

·      Take shortcuts, even though they are longer.

·      Stay open to change. Pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters are everywhere. Pick them up, put them in your walking savings jar.

·      Notice side paths (human game trails) and follow them. Most of them are short cuts. All lead to interesting places.

·      Keep a soft-eyed open gaze. You see more; are perceived as less a threat or challenge; get in less trouble.

·      Keep your head up and look around. No head bouncing. When your head bounces, your visual world bounces. Keep an even keel.

·      No marching. Amble. Amble fast or amble slow, but amble. Since you are amble-atory, you are less likely to need an amble-ance.

·      Stop, look, and listen. At any time. For as long as you care to.

·      If you have a watch, leave it at home. You will get there when you get there. And you will never get there since you are always here.

·      Carry a teeny notebook to record your teeny thoughts. That’s how this guideline you are reading was formed.

Well, that’s way too many guidelines.

Just go out there and walk around.