🧨 From the River to the Sea
How I Ended This Summer
It was a very unusual experience.
After I finished my Camino, I had to fly to Tel Aviv.
There were some small personal and business issues—it was a big task. After one rocket attack on Ben-Gurion Airport, all the cheap airlines, like WizzAir, canceled their flights, and I spent some time trying to find a ticket for a reasonable price. I mean less than $500. Typically, it’s about $80. Anyway, after few days spending on Google Flights I solved this problem and arrived in Israel.
For a few weeks, I stayed on a friend’s couch, and a few more—in another friendly flat. I was tired from the long walk. I caught the flu in Madrid (it’s not about the location, it’s about my personal condition). During this time, I just slept and tried to recover.
Afterwards, I got back to business. One of my projects brought me an iPad. It was supposed to change my life. I could return to work, get back to my digital art, and some personal projects. But something went wrong.
The largest military conflict in the Middle East began.
What does it mean for regular people?
You wake up at 3:00 a.m. for the first time, from the annoying sounds of different devices. It’s a special message from the Homefront office. After 3–5 minutes, depending on the time of the attack, you hear the siren. What happens next? You go to the bomb shelter. The next 30–40 minutes you spend in a protected room with people from the area—dogs, children. Everyone is stressed, woken up suddenly, tired and nervous.
On the one hand, I’m okay. I’m single here, don’t have much stuff, have good health and a calm mind. For me, it’s not a problem to wake up in the middle of the night and go somewhere. But the general circumstances were awful. The first few days were normal. But after a week, you go mad.
It lasted twelve days.
And I spent a few weeks afterwards trying to get back to my usual state.
There’s one big issue for me: actually—it’s not my problem. Yes, I have some connections to this place, but it doesn’t mean that I care deeply about it. Despite the documents—I’m a stranger here. Like a peregrine. It’s not my problem. Even though thousands became mine.
Anyway, I try to get back to my usual routine.
And a lot of apps help me do this. Thanks to the brand new iPad, I had an amazing opportunity to review my digital garden and, yet again, start a new life.
The first one, of course, is Procreate. I’ll be happy to get back to my art. That Australian app is the best for digital creators. Of course, if you need to do something more complex, you need other devices and software, but for my tasks, it’s the best option.
The second group (there are three apps here) is text editors:
1. Notes—on iPhone for immediate or permanent records. Something on the go, or something that you use from time to time. (I still don’t remember some numbers, like the local phone or my passport.)
2. iA Writer. Actually, there are a lot of alternatives, like Bear, for example. But iA Writer was the first in line, and I’m still happy with its UX simplicity.
3. And finally—Scrivener. It’s for professional writers. I like to use the best tools in my work. This one is on top. I spent some time learning how it works (the main thing is pinch-to-zoom text), but now I hope my work on the book will go faster.
And third—Things.
I know all about task management software. I was a power user of Todoist, I tried Workflowy and many other productivity apps. But Things is the best one. It’s not only about design. It’s about a minimum of necessary functions. For me, it’s a solution from anxiety. It’s very hard to structure an artistic mind. But now I’m happy with my future.
Anyway, I have an opportunity to spend some time with my personal stuff.
But here, there is still war. Israel is surrounded by problematic neighbors. There was some good news about negotiations with Hamas, but it’s only news. In real life—rockets, bombs, hostages.
It was an unusual experience.
I hope it remains so.
Next letter will be in September.
From another country.
Which one?
I don’t know.
Life is still unpredictable.
🤷🏼♂️