h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Last night I dreamed that there was a tree far older than any that have been found so far. Maybe tens of thousands of years, maybe even hundreds of thousands. Surprisingly, there were still enough lower branches that people could climb all the way to the top, which was higher than the highest building in the world. The lower part of the trunk was so vast that a lot of people could climb at once.

I sdreamed that I had climbed halfway up the tree, and came to a spot where there was a man who had decided to stay where he was. There were holes the size of caves in the trunk, and he hid in them from time to time. I tried to persuade him to either finish climbing to the top or return to the bottom and rejoin society, but he had had enough of people, and just wanted to be by himself. This made me sad for him, but all I could do was continue climbing upward to enjoy the view from the top.

I'm happy in a crowd and I'm happy by myself, but many don't have that option

to me, that dream is your subconscious telling you a change of scenery is due - like a holiday and as the saying goes - a change is as good as a rest

Hi my dear Paulh

I have a sneaking suspicion that I am stuck in the trunk at the moment.

Oh dear.

What am I to do about it.

Be miserable or be happy with the fact that I have found a comfotable resting olace where pain can be contained?

I wonder - but will probably go on struggling a bit longer until it becomes intolerable.

How does one cope without hip joints?

CME
Ar80+2.25

Friday 6th august 2010 7.29 BST

Hi Prof. Animal Chaos CEO and all the other things you are.

I have just paid a fleeting visit to your site

congratulations, you must be the most popular guy on h2g2- with a site that grew at a breath-taking rate. I also note you are a Yorkshire man "born and bred"

I think I am "stuck" in the trunk of the Paul's dream tree and I appear to be happy!!

Good to meet you - even fleetingly!!

Christiane
AlsoRan80+2.25

Friday 6th August 7.50

Christiane, I thank you for your comments love

andjust "Prof" will do

This dream reminds me of another dream - not mine, I always dream about lifts rather than trees - about climbing.

This fella had a ladder:

http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/as_jacob_with_travel.htm

So if the aim of dreaming is to find Jungian architypes, I'd say you'd done it this time.

Jacob, eh?

Christiane, I think that in your situation it's a good thing to stay where you are.

If the man in my dream was happy in his caves in the treetrunk, then that's fine. Apparently I thought he would be happier finishing the climb, but that's just me.

Prof, you are probably right about the desirability of a change of scenery. I promise that I will do just that, but after 40 years of working in a fairly narrow rut, I am already getting some much-needed change. I have the luxury of leisure in which to plan something really nice.

It was a really nice dream, as I love big old trees.

*declines to point out that she's surrounded by big old trees *

Hi Paulh

but the sad(?) part about this is that I really do not believe that I ever dream.!!!

I slip into what seems a dreamless sleep and about five sometimes six hours "come to" perfectly relaxed, happy to be able to see out of my window across the water of the Channel, and lie in my lovely reclining chair wondering if the little control which I have tfor getting me back into the sitting position is going to work or if It is going to stick which it has been doing.

Then I get into a panic and tip and tilt and generally get really into a state.
However, the dear chap who is a taxi driver and has had the most incredible and in many ways tragic life, but is a fund of humour and common sense, comes and has a look at it, tells me not to panic and there we are, I am able to tilt myself in a gentle manner again.

I had an orthopaedic bed originally but that was a vicious monster and used to jacknife me and fold me into a sort of sprung "sandwich" I disliked it intensely.

I shall take your advice and stay in my cave in the heart of the tree, and hope that you enjoy the view from the top. It is very comforting to be able to look all around to the various areas of the world (basically one;s life I suppose) and enjoy it.
How come you have the leisure to do what you wish to do. You have not yet retired have you? Just enjoying a break....

Go well

Christiane
AR80+2.25

Friday 6/VIII/2010 18.15 BST

Hi Amy .

But the paradox is that by declining to admit it you have....

Great to hear from you. How are Faith and your little one. and of course Tom.
I have not forgotten my promise - wonders never cease and I still hope to fulfil it. !!
With affection to you and your family,

Christiane
AR80 +2.25

Friday 6th August 2020 18.30 BST

I have the leisure because I retired last month.

congratulations, paulh, i knew you were going to retire, but had forgotten the date

so have you read a lot of books lately or are you taking a brake from books?



ps: if you felt sad for the man in the trunk then that is what you should be, after all it was your dream.

It was tempting to climb into the caves and stay there, too.

but you felt like you should keep on climbing?

what would happen once you had reached the top?

happy retirement Pauland well earned my friend

"what would happen once you had reached the top?" [Pierce]

It was a dream, so normal standards of logic didn't apply. But I would probably have enjoyed the view from the top, and then climbed back down to the ground.

"happy retirement Paul and well earned my friend"

Thanks, prof! So far, it's going well.

all the things you wanted to do but didn't have the time, are now reachable

Well, almost all. Parcours and Riverdancing are probably not feasible now.

so running the marathon's out then

That's right. Any marathon anywhere, anytime.
Heck, any running at all.