As time passes, I have occasionally reflected on what my legacy might mean. While my dad was around my age, he told me that people seldom regret acts of kindness or generosity. They really only regret the times when they did less than they could. Borrowing one of Woody Allen’s sentiments – the words I’d love to hear most at my memorial service are, "Look, he’s moving!" But that seems unlikely. So instead, I will hope to be remembered as someone who appreciated and truly understood the natural world and tried to make a difference.

Given the opportunity to join the Land & Legacy Society, I recognized that Big Sur Land Trust’s work reflects some of the values I hold most dear: the preservation of our amazing natural world, and the opportunity for young people to experience the wonder and joy that come with time spent out on the land. I concluded that a bequest to the Land Trust is one of the best ways I could honor these values.