John Scalzi: Being Poor

[Phlem]

10. Lived my 1st 8 years in the Philippines.

Everyone was dirt poor. One of my aunts who lived in Manila had shack where the floor was literally the dirt in which the shacks were built. There's another type of poor but not as bad.

My grandfather had property on one of the islands, no electricity, running water, etc... Some kerosene for lamps and a few burners. It was poor but rich. The shacks were raised off the ground, obviously bamboo (space between the timbers) but very clean. We were a few steps from the ocean so seafood was plentiful. Banana, mango, coconuts and all kinds of fruit were plenty full including cocoa. Everyone had enough with enough left over for island luau's. A Hawaiian style festival but with Filipino food. Roast pig in the ground, plenty of limpets and abalone.

I miss it so and am afraid is gone completely as I zoom in with Google Earth.

I wish there were still undisturbed places like this where people can be wealthy with nothing.

-p