I think what makes Taiwan so beautiful are the warm and friendly people. I’d like to go back and start a surf school there. The water is warm, the waves nice, and the people are friendly.

Driving through Yami Mountain and looking at the monkeys was fun too.
—Bi;;

Four Secrets to enjoying life after 50:

1. Do what you were scared to do when you were younger.
This doesn’t mean take acid or shoot heroin or crystal meth. It means take a chance to help an old lady cross a street. Talk to strangers. Get up and dance when the music plays. Life becomes to short to sit another song out. Now that the illusion of coming across as “cool” has left the room when you look in the mirror, it’s time to have some fun. And you can even get others like you to join in. These people can become your new friends and you can encourage each other into new and even more daring acts of kindness and craziness.

2. Take a class.
A community college class gets you out and about and not only do you learn new things, you can fantasize on the good looking students. It keeps your mind active, and your social skills honed, and it beats watching TV every night. I just took a Chinese Language class. It kicked my butt trying to remember all those phrases and symbols, but those cute Japanese girls were so nice to me, it was almost worth it. Now I can order my food in Chinese restaurants—well, almost.

3. Indulge in a hobby.
Nothing beats something you really enjoy. I grow exotic fruit trees and make wine from the fruit. I also propagate the trees by grafting and air-layering to make new ones. Now I’m taking a Vineyard Management class and learning about growing different varieties of grapes. I expect to have some even better wine in the future with combinations of Merlot and lychee. Then give your hobby to others. Teach them how to graft, make wine, or give them wine, or trees you’ve propagated. Pass on the fruit of your hobbies.

4. Exercise.
Get up early and run 2 miles before you are fully awake and start to talk yourself out of it. Play raquetball. Sweat freely and openly with pride. Surf, even in the dead of winter, and enjoy the warm feeling of peeing in your wetsuit. Ski, even though double skis are going out-of style. Who gives a shit? The feeling of the cold wind against your face and the crunching sound of the snow, make you feel glad to be alive. And you can feel sorry for the snowboarders limping in the lift line trying so hard to be cool. Remember, exercise maintains the physical shell which helps you get all the other things done. You can look whithered and wrinkled, but you need to stay in shape so you can stay alive and make a difference.

More to come—when I can remember them.
—Bill

Again, thank you for your concern. I’m touched.
—Bill

Thank you for your concern, and for your inspiration.

I really didn’t think anyone read these posts—especially ones about surfing in Taiwan. I’ve been busy removing spam (about 50 -80 spam posts per day). It must have robbed me of any creativity.

I do thank you for posting this. And post more drivel real soon.

Any subjects of interest?

Thanks for posting here. Have you ever been to Fulong Beach or Honeymoon Bay?

I feel this is the undisclosed secret of Taiwan—the beautiful beaches that no one sees. Everyone seems to flock in droves to the beaches at Kenting, but it seems that few visit the beaches that are closer to Taipei. But, wait a minute, maybe that’s good! Less crowds. More waves.

Maybe we should keep it a secret.
—Bill