‘How do we maintain our sense of humour when faced with disaster and even extinction, although the latter is a longer process?’ I asked Camp when we were both settled in our customary seats at our seaside pub.

            ‘We can wallow in doom and gloom, moan and groan, feel sorry for ourselves and the whole human race or just get on with it, have a laugh, see the beauty all around us and cherish those close to us.’

            ‘Are you being serious Camp or is this just a refined form of sarcasm?’

            ‘No, I’m serious. Without humour and fun, we’re doomed for sure. Laughter is the one free commodity we can take as much of as we want to and the best medicine for depression or just a bad mood. To laugh at oneself is also rather sobering. Nothing quite as ludicrous as taking oneself too seriously.’ 

            ‘I guess that’s why it’s called gallows humour. As someone said to me the other day: It is difficult to conceive of any sense of humour about impending extinction.’

            ‘I suppose we could just give up and resign ourselves to this apocalyptic vision of tomorrow and then what? Life goes on if we like it or not. The human race will probably survive; maybe in the millions rather than billions, maybe we’ll grow palm trees and pineapples here in the Pacific Northwest and Greenland will be green again. Or I can join the new religion where the gospel is that everything from climate change to Covid is a conspiracy.’

            ‘That’s a pretty cynical view but it might be more realistic than pretending that we can reverse the present warming trends and lower emissions worldwide. The warming of the oceans and the melting permafrost will continue as long as there are ten billion humans and their livestock vying for space and comfort zones and are extracting and burning almost 100 million barrels of oil each and every day.’

            ‘I don’t find much to laugh about in that sobering and depressive vision, Camp. What are we going to tell our grandkids? That they’re fucked? That the future is already decided for them? Instead, I’m going to paint them a picture of challenges and opportunities, of ambition and hope, and of fun and laughter. You gotta have fun or it’s not worth pursuing.’

            ‘Easy for you to say. You’re sitting comfortable in your easy chair with your toys and books, three meals a day, time to spare and nothing to prove.’

            ‘What am I supposed to do Camp? Feel guilty? Pretend that I’m suffering when I’m having fun and enjoying myself? Preach doom and gloom when in reality I’m living in the best time ever, have all the creature comforts and all the food and drink that I need?’

            ‘A little humility wouldn’t hurt but you’re right. We are living the best life ever. Normal, working-class people never had it so good as in our generation. And yet, I fear that we’re going backwards in many ways, politically, environmentally and even economically.’

            ‘And the music was better too,’ I said. ‘Mick Jagger turned 80 last week. Imagine that. Is time still on his side? I bet you he’s laughing about that song now.’

            Better to laugh than to cry, better to be happy than sad and better to love tha n to hate.’

            ‘You sound like a hippy from the seventies. Make love not war.’

            ‘I guess old convictions don’t die and I still feel the same.’

            When Vicky came around with two fresh pints, Camp asked her: ‘Do you think my friend here is an old hippy?’

            Vicky looked at me quizzically with one hand on her hip and the other holding the tray. ‘Hippy? Now that’s a concept from the past. Almost like fossil.’

            ‘You’re calling me a fossilized hippy?’

            Camp couldn’t stop laughing.