So in the end, how was 2005 as a year? Let's review, shall we?

Unless I have miscalculated somewhere, 2005 will go down as my year of travel. I managed to visit Key Largo, Orlando, Seattle, Chicago, Providence, Cambridge, Boston, Washington DC, and Salem. Some were work trips, true, and some were quite brief. Still, this is quite an accomplishment for me, since I do not travel well, being paranoid if away from my twice-robbed home for too long, and also unhealthily attached to my libraries. But I enjoyed it, and hope to spend a little more time away from home in 2006.

This was not a perfect year by any account, although thankfully little of the tragedy was personal this time around. My work environment degenerated (more), my health hit a few speed bumps, hurricanes brought devastation to Florida and the Gulf, and America continued its transformation into an arrogant and short-sighted bully-state. Since there was little I could do about any of it, my stress levels maintained a steady high, which undoubtedly contributed to those aforementioned speed bumps. That whole "que sera, sera" thing doesn't really work for me.

Fortunately there was plenty of good to go with it. I was able to meet old friends for the first time, make several close new friends, and re-establish contact with some thought lost. Miami has finally developed a noticeable web community, so I can quit feeling guilty if I skip writing about some local event. My father retired from his job after 45 years with the same company, and is actually enjoying his retirement. (Knowing that I'll never have that luxury does make me a bit jealous, I confess, but these are the times in which we live.) Hell, against all odds there was even a decent Batman movie!

Sunrise on 2005

View at Key Largo

The old man retires

Charlestown, Rhode Island

Jen in Boston

The Cambridge Esplanade

Graves in Salem

Providence

Seattle

Millennium Park, Chicago

Peace March, Washington, DC

Powerless post-Wilma

So in the final analysis, it was just another year. No matter how good or bad they turn out, we wish for better luck in the next, and I'm no different. I just hope that this time I learn something.