1- when we are cremated we reduce the complex carbon molecules down to the simplest form and the energy in the bonds is released. We are essentially reducing the available energy for life on the planet by a small fractional amount.

2 - I looked into those companies that make diamonds out of your ashes... They don't use all of them. They imply that they take this large pile of "you" and compress it into a diamond. Reality is they take a small amount of that large pile, press that in with whatever other materials they normally use to make cubic zirconia, and toss the rest.

It seems most rational to be buried without a box in a manner that promotes decomposition... That way your useful molecules are most efficiently used and dispersed. I think there are some hippies that have a natural burial site somewhere. But I dunno.

You assume much... 🤣

Anyone read the book Stiff? (Not a Frankie tripod biography)

You bring up an interesting point. When my Wife's Father passed he wanted his ashes to go to sea, he was a merchant marine seaman. I made the arrangements with a funeral home in Charleston, SC. Since i am pretty plain speaking the funeral director and I had a frank talk about the arrangements. In this state you do not need a casket to be cremated, however the funeral home had a charge of $75 for a pre-cremation container. He said, The container is actually optional, however it's was preferred by our staff. You can imagine when the work is stacked up and they have to load multiple bodies for processing." No problem, very reasonable.8-[

He knew we were going to return the remains to the ocean and offered to take them out in his boat, no charge, he needed another excuse to take it our anyway. When we explained we meeting some of his friends to post the remains in the ocean he gave use directions to the perfect spot, near Fort Moultree, then he gave us a warning, "You've probably never done this before, do pay attention to the wind so you don't end up with a facefull of remains."

Yeah. This. We had a chaplain that wouldn't listen. The family wanted the urn returned. I told the sky pilot, let's transfer the remains to another disposable container, and let that go into the wake. No. They were videoing the ceremony for the family and he wanted to sprinkle them out. "Chaplain, it's really windy out there today." He insisted.

Sure as hell, me an my guys are online to render honors, the rifle salute, and as he empties the urn as a gust of wind hits us right in the face. A massive updraft from the hull and he's covered, we're covered, one of the guys got a mouthful and is losing it.

Did I mention it was being videotaped? In living color? Not good. They wanted us to do a "do over" for video. I told them we could, but I wasn't going to feel good about it, and all our dress white uniforms were trashed.

We didn't do it so I'm not sure what they ended up doing about the video. The Skipper mentioned to me later that I should maximize those guys liberty when we got back into port, and there was no way he could send that to the bereaved. He did replace our whites for us too, he was good dude.

OMG!

FWIW, the funeral home had a showroom just for cremations that included completely combustable caskets all manner of urns and urns specifically designed for use in water. Some just sank, some would dissolve and others had holes thet opened in the water.

I have a number of stories....way too many burials at sea end poorly.

Just due to the 'hassle' from arrival of remains on the pier until ceremonies completed.....PITA for a LOT of Sailors....for that reason alone, I vowed to be buried at sea just to provide one last prolonged annoyance

Actually, wife and I plan to be cremated and be interred in Arlington Columbariam....but, in recent years, we've talked about just being scattered in our favorite lake. Scattered my dad at his favorite lake in Canada, and it was good for mom....and us, too.

She loved my idea and wants the same for her.

Hitch is, all the kids and my boys in attendance...just like when we started.

I can see no need for taking up space where they could build a playground, a school or a church. None. Don't need a headstone for people to visit. They already know I was here.

I don't swim well but do enjoy fishing and relaxing at the ocean and a few lakes, so my wife and kids asked if I really wanted some ashes put into bodies of water...

once you get to that point, swimming(or not) won't be much of a factor....8-[

When my mom passed away unexpectedly, we couldn't stand the thought of an open casket and the full grave site thing, so we had her cremated. For us it was much better that way.