Sometime in early 2006 I read about Rob Hopkins and the Transition movement in Ireland at treehugger.com, and that led me to Hopkin's blog and Web site, transitionculture.org,
one of the links you'll see in Useful Web Stuff on this blog. At the time I remember feeling so relieved to read his encouraging yet realistic take on the future of life I almost cried. I promptly bookmarked the site and have returned again and again when I needed just a tad more promising outlook on where the world is headed -- something besides the dystopian vision that often seems more prevalent.
What I discovered at transitionculture.org is a knowledge-based, user-friendly approach to the end of cheap oil, climate change, and a future that seems increasingly uncertain. Rather than give in to dire predictions, despair or doom, or stick his head in the sand and hope for a miracle, Hopkins has staked a claim in the hopeful realm of practical thinking, planning, organization, action, and vision ... yes vision with a capital V! I've downloaded some of his resources from time to time and found them useful, but longed for a more comprehensive, step-by-step guide to transitioning communities from gross over-dependence on fossil fuels to self-reliance.
Be careful what you wish for -- you just might get it. Earlier this year I found out Hopkins had just such a book in the works, The Transition Handbook: From oil dependency to local resilience. I 
immediately pre-ordered it, fingers tapping impatiently (that was March or April) for September when it would supposedly print. Something must have moved the print date up -- I was thrilled when the book arrived last Friday, and I can hardly wait to delve into it. It appears to be everything I'd hope for and more, and I think it will be very helpful in the sustainable work in Oklahoma City and elsewhere in our state. Jim took a look at it over the weekend and is excited too. It looks to be a treasure trove of transitioning information. I'll keep you posted on insights I'm gleaning as I read it.
In the skimming I've done so far, I found this quote at the end of his introduction that neatly sums up Hopkin's approach. I hope you like its hopeful message as much as I did:
"This is not a book about how dreadful the future could be; rather it is an invitation to join the hundreds of communities around the world who are taking the steps towards making a nourishing and abundant future a reality."
I love the phrase "a nourishing and abundant future." I like that vision of the future, like to think together we can make that kind of vision happen.
What do you think? Are you ready to begin the transition?
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