If you want to make god laugh, tell him your plans.
— Van Zandt, Help Somebody

It seems like there is a lot of talk about planning these days. People are constantly urging us to make retirement plans on the radio, especially for the young. Cities are told they have to make 20 year solid waste plans, along with Comprehensive Plans through 2030.

What’s the obsession with plans? Why can not we as a society simply learn to live in sustainable ways today, and not spend so much effort focusing on tommorow? There is a difference between planning and sustainability:

Planning is…

• Abstract plans
• Based on a view of tomorrow by today’s ziegist
• Educated guess based on today’s technology
• Excuse for not doing things right today

Sustainability is…

• Taking sensible steps today that are right for today and tomorrow
• Not consuming more resources then we currently have access to
• Avoiding debt unless it shows short-term benefit, and can be shown also to have a long-term benefit equal to payback time

There is a lot of talk about short-term pain for long-term gain these days. Yet, what should be the threshold for pain? While it would be irresponsible for us as a society and individuals, to ignore long-term consequences of our actions, it’s just as bad to scrimp today on false beliefs on what tommorow would look like.

Planners of all stripes are bound to take issue of prioritising sustainability over planning. They say, without a plan, how can you really know if your actions will lead you where you want? I disagree. Do what’s right for today, but also don’t destroy your world for tomorrow.