The zen of shoveling snow

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I live in Massachusetts and we've had quite a bit of snow. I've been shoveling a lot. My neighborhood is tight, without a lot of snow storage locations, so my piles are now well over my head.

I won't claim to like shoveling snow, but don't mind it either.  Until today the snow was light and fluffy (today is that dreaded thing forecasters call "wintry mix"). Shoveling, done right, is a nice workout. Just protect your back.

My wife bought me a great new shovel, a Garant, with an ergonomically curved shaft and a handle good for both pushing and lifting.  There's no name, but I think it's this one.  I love it.

There's been a lot of discussion about Tyler Cowen's ebook experiment, The Great Stagnation. I have it but haven't yet read it.  That's not going to stop me from commenting on it, however. It's, in part about large changes vs. incremental changes.

The Garant shovel is a good example of incremental improvement. Every angle on it, from the blade to the "Versagrip" takes a lot of snow shoveling experience into account. Its materials are both light and sturdy. We tend to overlook changes in materials over time, since they look pretty much like what they replace, while being cheaper, tougher, lighter, and often more attractive.

So, shoveling snow is still shoveling snow, but as my body ages, the shovels get better.  So far, I'm staying even.