Over the last two days I’ve been trying to get the tropics out of my system – but it’s really hard. Because of

But also because of

 

All the things I try to fight here, like poor sandy soil… freezes… extreme heat… they’re just not in play there.

That doesn’t mean the tropics are perfect, however. Along with a lack of food challenges, there’s also a lack of drive in many of the people we encountered. Everything runs slow down there. The roads are poor, houses aren’t getting painted, land lies fallow, the gears of government drag along, and it can take a half-hour to get a cup of coffee delivered to your table in a local cafe.

The folks were friendly, happy and healthy… but they weren’t interested in doing things today. Maybe tomorrow. Or next week. Or year.

The same seems to be a pattern across the equatorial regions. How many great civilizations or powerful nations lie in that favored climate band? Mmm… let’s see… Brazil, maybe?

Having all the food you need and a climate that won’t kill you in the winter seems to be a deterrent to Getting Stuff Done.

Maybe that’s a good thing. In a place where even cups and serving bowls grow on trees…

A calabash tree!

…why bother fighting?

A big part of me is disappointed that the Global Warming hysteria has turned out to be a crock. I was really looking forward to growing breadfruit up here…