This morning we were invited round for coffee at the home of neighbours. Although they only live two doors away from our house I had never before taken a close look at their garden. Not only did it turn out to be at least twice as large as ours (how do they spare the time?) but they have a very different philosophy of gardening. Large areas of the garden are permitted to be semi-wild. A large proportion of the grassed area is left as a habitat for wild flowers instead of mowing it to an even green surface. (“Flowers”, of course, that we classify as “weeds”!) The whole thing has a charming and casual air about it, in comparison with the relatively disciplined approach we take. Admittedly they have been developing their garden for ten years longer than we have, but even so, it was interesting to experience the difference.
This set me thinking on the question of whether the return we get from the effort we expend in the garden is proportionate. Could we have a nicer garden in we put in less work?
How (in general terms) is it possible to judge whether it is worth making an effort for something? The question comes to mind regularly in relation to exhibitions. Next week I will be delivering a piece for exhibition, accepted as my entry to a national competition. Even if I sell it I do wonder whether the costs of submission and delivery (and of collection if its doesn’t sell) will be recouped. It is very gratifying, of course, to have been selected for exhibition, and this is a feather in my cap. I could say that it contributes to building my reputation. As an economic enterprise, however, I am not sure that it is rational.
I was prompted along this line of thinking by an email message I read just before starting this blog, in which I was invited to submit work for another such exhibition. There is a possibility that I might have some pieces in stock already that would match their criteria. Even if I believe this to be the case, however, I will need to spend some time mulling over the question of whether the return on the effort of entering the competition will be justified, and what considerations I need to bear in mind in making that decision.