now i live in here:
it's been a while since i wrote anything on this here web log. i think that's due to a few things. partly because i haven't been sure if i wanted to write anything more, partly because i didn't know what to write, and partly because i wanted to think about it all a bit before i wrote anything.i'm currently in berkeley, california, where i have taken residence in the wonderful Staskawicz household. before arriving in berkeley, i spent a few nights in los angeles with a very nice and welcoming friend of a friend, Lauren, then a few nights in los olivos with Hayley and Rob.
los angeles the city wasn't exactly my cup of tea but in hindsight, i did have quite a bit of fun for just a two-night stay, catching a lakers game, meeting some old and new friends for some korean bbq, a lunch with Drew and some gossiping with Lauren and her roommates.
los olivos was up my alley. it was a welcome relief to wake up to birds chirping and brisk, fresh air outside. the small town of los olivos has some incredible scenery that Hayley and Rob were very kind to show to and explore with me. it was just what i needed after the long flight and los angeles.
i made quick friends with Calvin, the resident young feline. days were spent exploring and playing on campus, nights spent eating great food with great friends.
an organized hitch-hike later and i arrived in berkeley. thanks Lauren!so here i am. what's next? good question.
my poss-move-to-city-list is somewhat large and contains a number of towns in amazing places that i have great friends in. i might move to one of them, get a job, etc, etc. i've also been entertaining the idea of working at a lodge or ranch in an extremely-fishing-accessible location. i reckon i'd meet some cool people and be outside a lot. and fish a lot.
when i was a senior in high school, our class advisers gave a speech to the whole class. one part of their speech took use of a few stones, gravel, sand and a jar. we all watched as our advisers put all the sand they had in the jar and then the gravel and then the bigger stones. the stones obviously didn't fit. they emptied the jar and began filling again, this time with the stones first, followed by the gravel and then the sand. the message was this: in the "jar" of life, there are so many things you can do, passions you will have. fill your jar with your big stones, your loves, your passions, first. i'm not sure if i completely agree with the jar analogy and finite intersts/passions/people, etc., but i've thought about this lately.
i love being outdoors, being in and on the water and seeing new places, with great friends. this is what i really enjoy doing. these are the big stones in my life right now. why would i put myself in a location where it is difficult to get at these big stones? in other words, why not put myself in a location where it's very easy to get at these big stones, very often? hence the fishing lodge ideas.
but. there are always two (if not more) sides to coins, aren't there? who says my "jar" is only so big? why can't i find some other big stones sooner or later that i want to get get ahold of as well? why not try something completely new and different? experience new things. move to a new city, make some new friends, do some new activities, unearth some new stones.
is it ignorant or debilitating to say that i don't enjoy some things or i don't want to do some things? i've never really been a fan of suburbia, but here i am, i'm still happy. sometimes i think i don't want to move to a city because it would take a two- or three-hour drive to get to a trout stream. is that all that bad? who knows what sorts of things i'd find in that city. things i've possibly never heard of, never seen. if i follow a single passion for so long, will i miss other opportunities, possibly other passions? maybe.
but that's probably the half-glass-empty look at it i suppose, eh? of course whenever you decide to do something, you're not doing something else. take a right and you're not going left. i guess the most important thing is to do. whatever it is, do it. experiences aren't good or bad, they're experiences.
and as life and time ambles, saunters and dances on, you can do whatever you want! you can do whatever you want! you can do whatever you want! you can do whatever you want!
hmmm. so. we'll see what happens!
I think you are right to focus on your major values first and that it is difficult at times to balance city vs outdoors, but not all cities are created equal. In Boston and New York it seems impossible to excape the city limits, but visit Seattle and Portland, OR - I found both to be fun, creative cities with easy access to nature. Also I have a friend in Bend which is supposed to be an incredible spot.
ReplyDeleteALSO (while you're in the neighborhood) in 2008 I spent a week driving from Seattle to San Fran with a friend, we did all of route 101 and camped each night along the way. It was one of the best trips ever. Vale la pena!
Robbins, when hemming and hawwing your way through these wonderful decisions you have to make, just know that you're on a path that can only end with great things. Your cup will be full whether you go right or left, whether you're three feet from the trout stream or three hours. You have chosen to wander, and wandering is a path that so many didn't have the guts to venture into to. I read your posts, hear your stories, and have little doubt that wherever the road leads your thirst will be quenched by the cold beverage cooled in a mountain stream....I believe, as the quote says, it goes glug glug :)
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