Dog-sittting today, for friends.

They have a huge 17th century house with a large garden, in the centre of town. I sit in the garden, enjoying the sun and the friendly breeze and the whole space. Everything here is generous and graceful. I grew up thinking of myself as part of the educated upper middle class, destined to be safe and comfortable. Now I can barely pay my bills, and we can't afford summer holidays. #DownwardlyMobile, your name is Roamer. Part of being an academic in the UK, I accept it.

Today I sit in this beautiful vast garden, harvesting memories of past self-images. I have books with me; van der Waerden's Algebra I, the German edition, since you ask. Mathematics is best expressed in German, and best by writers to whom it is a second language. His German is up there with Thomas Mann or Goethe.

A day off. Quiet reflection. A supremely elegant Saluki by my side. A supremely elegant book in my hands.

#summer #class #mathematics #VanDerWaerden #Salukis #grace

"This Is What Life Without Retirement Savings Looks Like" [2018], The Atlantic (https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/02/pensions-safety-net-california/553970/).

#Savings #Retirement #DownwardlyMobile #RetirementSavings #USA #SocialSecurity #401K #DefinedContributionPlans #Finance #PersonalFinance