It's a good time to be alive.

Despite the economic downturn and the problems we must address together to prevent harming our environment, living now is so much better than any other time. Most of my readers are people in the prime of their lives; men and women who have full time jobs, family obligations and career plans; women who worry about getting enough sleep after everyone else is taken care of; people photographing their cities, their talent, their hobbies; people sharing some of their writing and their paintings. We all have an interest in sharing what it is like to live in our world at this time. We are all excited about the opportunity to learn about other lives in other continents.

If I stopped and counted, between the official followers, and the blogs I follow, I have come to know about one hundred men and women from the following places: Australia, U.k., Africa, Italy, France, Canada, Germany, Japan. I'm missing South America, though Porto Rico might be counted as such. So, with one hundred sample, I might draw some conclusions, just for fun. I would like to be corrected immediately. So, if you read this and disagree, please set me straight.

1. Australia has the warmest and friendliest folks. During the biggest drought, they were still sweet and polite.

2. U.k has the most outspoken and verbal people; their vocabulary weighty

3. Italy, my homeland, has all the smells and tastes I remember, and more.

4. Africa has thoughtful and deeply sensitive writers.

5.France is a problem to describe, because the writers are expatriates. They are observant and style conscious.

6.Canada, while the rest of the Northern Hemisphere is enjoying spring, they remind us not to take anything for granted. They are practical, sensitive and courageous.

6. Germany, just one sample, has warm and supportive people.

7.Japan, one sample, playful, observant, soulful.

8. Porto Rico, one sample, open, creative, a mix of colors and patterns to please the eye and the soul.

9. United States, a few samples, showing a lot of practical, mostly liberal folks, open to the world around them, concerned about governmental policies, interested in the rest of the world.

Fifty years ago this month I emigrated to the United States from Italy. I still regard Italy as my soul-land; and the United States as my adoptive parents, and in-laws. Those of you who moved away from home know what those feelings are. We do things for many reasons.

It's still a good time to be alive. While we can, we can write to each other and share our views, our perspectives, adding to the common thread of our humanity.