Flying Home

We're sitting in the Phoenix airport waiting for our plane to Knoxville, looking out at the rocky peaks in the Phoenix horizon and discussing all the airports we've flown out of just this year alone: San Francisco, Memphis, Knoxville, Salt Lake City, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, and Atlanta. Shouldn't we be getting some frequent flyer miles by now? Small planes, large planes, planes that serve meals, planes that don't, planes with passengers squeezed in like cattle, and planes with leather reclining seats - all the options that United States airline travel offers. In this age of easy travel - where we can fly from 116 degree arid desert heat to 90 degree humidity - from miles of red rock to acres of lush forest - all in a day's travel, it's easy to forget what an amazing feat it is to propel a muti-ton steel plane into the air, keep it as well as all the passengers and luggage aloft, and fly at an altitude as high or higher than the peaks of Mt. Everest. Mankind can do incredible things!
Among these incredible feats is man's ability to reflect on and imrove upon past actions. Those who travel frequently have begun to think about the environmental impact of traveling, and have begun to develop solutions to offset the negative effects of flying. One of the most exciting developments is the idea of offsetting carbon emissions by investing in things that absorb carbon. For example, Al Gore, who travels frequently to lecture on global warming, offsets the carbon he produces through flying by investing in mango groves in India. The women in Indian villages benefit from planting a sustainable and marketable crop, and the environment benefits because the mango trees absorb carbon. (Check out this month's Wired magazine for the complete article about Al Gore's environemntal efforts) Though carbon offsetting is in its early stages, many up and coming companies are beginning to develop plans to make the idea mainstream. Definitely a trend to watch!
Speaking of people who are interested in the environment, we attended an informal party last night hosted by one of the nurses on Ted's floor. Everyone was laid back, interesting to talk to, eco-savvy, and eager to discuss outdoor adventures as well as our environmental footprints. Tevas (sandals) and dogs abounded, and the conversation focused on one group's fishing expedition to Mexico, another couple's road trip to Canada, and frequent fishing trips to Lake Powell and hiking excursions to Buckskin Gulch. Needless to say, we fit right in! As we cooked out on the grill, exchanged stories, and shared insights - we knew that we had found a place we would love to call home for three months (and maybe longer.)

By: Rebecca
P.S. Sorry no picture. Typing in the airport in a hurry!