Change inputs, different outputs

No TrustZones, eMMCs to flash, no syntax or code. No DevOps, no CI, no linters and nothing compiling or failing to. The only dependencies have been about food, water, fuel and satisfaction.

I have been on a trip up north to where my grandmother (mother's side, mormor) was born and raised. To her it was home for some period of her life and for me, my parents and siblings it has been the very definition of summer break (sommarlov) and vacation (semester). Now the effort begins to ensure it is also the place my children dream of going in the summer. Two days by car and the kids can finally both sit in the back so me and my wife can speak to each other during the trip.

There are stereotypes about children in cars. They are partially born from an earlier time when there was no portable entertainment I think. But maybe our kids are also, mostly quite comfortable with this type of adventure. It has been mostly peaceful and mostly joyful.

Inputs have been sun, wind, some rain, continuous mild inconveniences, no running water, a broken kitchen cabinet door, lively children, immense outdoor vistas, old sturdy indoor spaces, good rocks to climb up on, good rocks to hop on in a stream, a rapid river, boggy ditches, sisters that might be witches, mosquitos and more.

Outputs have been tired skin and body that feels alive, water that was pumped from the ground by hand, a fixed kitchen cabinet door, tired children, happy children, running children, climbing children, hopping children, impressed children, some very dirty and wet children, weird brews, mosquito bites. And more.

If you have places you went to that you want your children to also know. Make the effort. It won't happen by itself. If you have places you care deeply about. Go to them. If you feel limited, think you could do more, better, different and you have options. Seek other inputs. It should produce different outputs.

I write this from our luxury stop. A last-minute hotel room booking about halfway down the country. Feeling like a reconditioned man, not new, but clean and well rested. Only about 8 more hours on the road before we are home again. I have lots of tech work to get back to and it will lead to exciting announcements and fun, wild rides. But this has been a week where I did not touch a keyboard.

Are there places you go? Places that are something entirely different for you? You can reach me on the Fediverse where I'm @lawik@fosstodon.org or by responding to this email to lars@underjord.io.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate it.