Will those who follow as I exit stage left face increasing hardships and decreasing lifespans as the years march on and Nature becomes more and more disfigured?

It appears that humankind is headed in that direction, thanks to the dim-witted, self-serving and short-sighted who seem to thrive among us more and more — inspired by the greedy leadership of Donald Trump and his ilk. The mid-term elections of 2022 will determine the character of our U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, as well as state governments. I intend to be around to cast my ballot, and we’ll see how it goes. That explains in large part my determined survival at an advanced age.

So meanwhile, back to a still-closer subject of a relative nature. I’ve lived in Port Townsend since 1928 and entered adulthood about the end of World War. I have some responsive questions and thoughts for those (in no way here related to the Trumpian philosophy alluded to above) such as Ms. Berry, whose recent letter stated:

“Growth is something Port Townsend no longer needs and should not allow anymore. We are the only city in Jefferson County designated for growth. We are endangering the fragile ecosystem and threatening the rural flavor.

“The ruination of Port Townsend has begun. We continue to see loss of trees for development.The loss of trees includes loss of wildlife habitat, loss of oxygen-producing and carbon dioxide-absorbing entities, and loss of local beauty. It’s time, now, to preserve. It’s time, now, to contribute to the repair of our broken planet by doing our share which should include planting, not removing trees. It’s time, now, to stop increasing the density of a town that is so small, it will soon fall prey to severe increases in pollution, traffic, and crime “

All true enough. I agree with Ms. Berry. However, the comments raise many other related questions in my mind — such as: How long have you lived in the area? How old are you? How many children do you have? Port Townsend can in no way designate itself as a NIMBY refuge on this planet that is destroying itself via over-population. In 1950, several years after I was out of high school, the U.S. population was 152.27 million. The U.S. population today is 326.7 million — more than doubled.

And most of the statements such as those spelled out in the Berry letter and by others appear to apply more to the Greater Port Townsend area, outside the city of Port Townsend (which itself has been somewhat ruined by both over-population and gentrification — much like Seattle).

A little over 60 years ago — when our lagoon was whole and reached all the way to the highway and to Kearney Street, Cape George Colony had not yet been envisioned and Kala Point was undeveloped, while Cook Avenue was still barren, I was picking small oysters off the rocks at old Port Ludlow (without seeing another person). Otto Street was a beaten-down area where I picked wild blackberries, and it was pretty lonesome driving along the Oak Bay Road.

The city population of 5,074 in 1960 has reached an estimated 10,200 over 61 years. Jefferson County has increased from 9,639 to about 33,000 or so. While the city proper has about doubled, eastern Jefferson County over all has tripled in population. Trees in great number outside the city fell over the years and deer finally moved into town in relatively modern times.

The “rural flavor” has been lost in Port Townsend, of course, but more so is disappearing from Hadlock to the Hood Canal Bridge and in other directions. I can no longer jump into my car and drive out to pick a few oysters or dig a few clams — or grow roses in the city without erecting deer fences. Never saw a deer on our mini-farm near the woods out on San Juan Avenue but Chinese pheasant used to raid the corn patch.

Those of us who think it’s turned worse in our lifetimes won’t be around to see how bad it can really get in another 75 or 80 years or so.

Incidentally, the only descendants of my parents at the moment are the three children mentioned in the foregoing heading — Claire, Simon and Iris. Not bad (so far) over a span of five generations, in a world gone to hell via over-population. My mind’s eye keeps going back to the guy who bragged on an episode of “Family Feud” about being the youngest of 18 children in a family.