Larry Baker:  

Well? Did life turn out as you thought it would? Was it Mrs. Diffenbaugh’s Latin, Mr. Mann’s Social Studies and the unforgettable Health/Hygiene classes account for much in your adult life? In retrospect, the informal lessons re: social stratification, cliques and how to get along did more to prepare me for the fully lived life I’ve enjoyed. · My continued excellent health and high energy level is a blessing, but probably has nothing to do with good habits and careful living. · My exhausting, lifelong pursuit of happiness has been replaced by widening those things that promote contentment. Why did it take so long to finally apply this common wisdom? · Because of the pure fun of it, I stayed at the college teaching computer subjects and languages until retirement, but a talent for business, investment, invention and marketing allowed me to achieve my goal of an early retirement 18 years ago. Before my wife agreed to retire, I took a series of long, solo, chicken bus level rambles through Central and South America. In 1998 Junko finally decided to join in and we traveled extensively in Europe, Oceania and Latin America. · After that phase we succumbed to a more structured way of travel and maybe my bumming around days are over. To that end we joined the...Expand for more