I recently had fun attending Wings over Homestead 2023. It was an air show featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Their amazing flying displays in F16 Fighting Falcons captivate me, and apparently, thousands of others who were in attendance. Other aircraft were flying showing off the pilots’ skills and the capabilities of the aircraft, new and old. And, the tarmac contained a large display of aircraft, mostly military, but including a commercial 737 and 747. I attended the show pulling a wagon with my camera gear, perhaps 50 pounds of stuff for the day, including 4 cameras, many lenses, tripods, etc. In the 5 hours I was on the airbase, I shot 4,500 images (in film terms, 125 rolls of 35mm film – which would have cost a fortune!). I left the show hot, tired, a bit dehydrated, but thrilled with what I watched happen, mostly in the sky. Later, I looked at my iPhone to see how much walking I did. The answer is 3.8 miles (with wagon in tow). All of this may or may not be interesting, but what caught my attention was that a few days before this airshow, I had also walked 3.8 miles in 1 day. That day was a research day. Inside a hotel. While our research days are long, 15 to 16 hours from start to finish, I was surprised to see how much walking I did among the meeting rooms, in the hallways, and throughout the hotel. That’s a lot of steps for what might otherwise seem like a sedentary, white collar, “office” job!
I’m glad David measures the distance he walks. I walk for exercise as often as my schedule permits, but I have never measured the distance. In the lovely neighborhood where David and I live, there are numerous areas where it is possible to walk, including many walking paths. As long as we stay off the golf course during times when people are playing golf, walking in the neighborhood is safe. I walk in the morning, before work and before it gets unbearably hot, and I enjoy seeing lots of people doing the same. I also enjoy seeing cute dogs out for a walk with their owner or various professional dog walkers who frequent our neighborhood. Magnus’ office is located within walking distance to David’s and my home and on occasion, I walk between these two places. I walk a lot on research days too. There are several differences between walking for exercise and walking at work, including my attire, either shorts and a tank top or a business suit; my shoes; either my trusty Birkenstocks or high heels; and the purpose of my walk, either meandering through the neighborhood or hurrying to meet a client’s needs. My physician has advised me that, in order for walking to count as exercise, one must walk at a brisk pace, as opposed to strolling slowly. In order to remind myself to walk fast (without looking silly like a “power walker,” with flailing arms and high stepping!), I pretend I am running late to meet a client in Manhattan and I am walking through Central Park as fast as I can. I know I am only pretending, but doing this provides all the motivation I need to keep moving. Walking on a research day, in contrast, does not allow any pretending. I walk with a purpose and this purpose is to get where I need to go, as fast as possible, to provide the best work I can do on behalf of Magnus’ clients. Let’s go for a walk!
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