In last week’s blog I asked for your help in choosing adventures that would help me face my fears of not making new connections in my new home town. Your response (here, on Facebook and personally replying by email) was heart-warming. You motivated me to go out and try new things. Maybe you’ll be motivated too! Here, in part II of Adventures in my ‘Hood, are the top requested ideas and lessons learned.

#1 Log Rolling

As one loyal fan told me – “You’re in the Pacific Northwest, of course you should try log rolling!” Log rolling does capture the imagination, harking back to the raw, rough & tumble days of the late 1800s when settlers were taking part in the dangerous industry of logging. Jim, my brother-outlaw who works for lumber companies offered me his “caulk boots” (the logging boots with spikes) with a hearty big laugh.

Are you curious how a public gym would be okay with trees in the pool? Thanks to a quick online search, I was better prepared for the “latest exercise trend” and the new equipment created for indoor log rolling.

Log Rolling Lessons

Log rolling was definitely an activity that pushed my limits! Here are some of the lessons I learned in this adventure:

• I had to get over my self-consciousness of my body. I was here to learn something, not to pick up guys (ha!).
• Persistence pays. I kept falling off, but every time I climbed back up, I made progress.
• Motivation to come back, but fitter. Log rolling is harder than it looks, and I am not as fit as I want. Next time I will be stronger and more successful at standing up!
• Inspiration to others. Younger people saw me trying and came over to try too. One woman was ready to give up after one try. I reassured her no one is perfect the first time out. Also, when you say something with confidence, people tend to believe you. I told the girl she had to try at least five times. With that in her head, she kept trying until she stood up! Side note – I felt better about not standing on the log after watching several fit young men not be able to either!

#2 Celtic Jam

A surprising number of people like this idea, so it’s #2 on the list. I had high hopes for this adventure – giving it romantic notions of smokey jazz club vibes in a hip coffee shop. I also hoped it would be similar to events my friend Harlow participates in with musical friends. From what I know of his Irish jam sessions, they seem lively and filled with fun. If it were an event like that, my non-logical reasoning thought, then maybe there will be people my age there to meet.

We took the risk, and it was not such a fun event. It felt like we were attending a practice session for a church social. The people in the cafe were there mostly for the free WiFi and workspace. It wasn’t the environment I hoped for to connect with like-minded people.

Celtic Jam lessons

• Be open to the possibilities and let go of judgements. I had expectations, and therefore was disappointed. Others there seemed quite content.
• Wonder. Looking at all the chairs on stage, I Wondered if maybe on other nights, or even later that night, there would be more performers showing up to jam.
• Try something new. The hot chocolate was delish and the coffee shop will be a place we come back to some morning.

#3 Native Plant Workshop

On a sunny Sunday afternoon I went to a nearby plant nursery for a workshop on ‘Native Plants’. The speaker is known for his knowledge, and has a book on the plants that grow on the nearby mountain called Mary’s Peak. I love plants, and the overview helps me understand the local fauna as well as the differences between what I am more familiar with back East. People attending the seminar have yards for planting, and seemed to have a bit more knowledge about the topic at hand.

Plant lessons

• Change is hard, and shows up in unexpected ways. I felt frustrated not having a yard or anywhere permanent for planting or investing in seeds for the future. While I know I chose this lifestyle, this past passion of mine now has to find new ways to express itself.
• Connections are not always instant. I made an intention to meet someone. I had an excuse for meeting the teacher and purposefully introduced myself. While friendly enough, I distinctly received the impression that some people are better with plants than other people.
• Things take time. Like sowing seeds and nurturing them to grow into strong plants, friendships blossom when the environment is right.

#4 Find local Native American Community

One of the local newspapers had an interview with Ms. Whitebear. So on the original list, I had written down to meet her specifically. What underlies this is my desire to connect with a community similar to a group of people my Adventure Partner and I grew to love over the years. This group of Native Americans (mostly from the Taino tribes) and friends enveloped us and taught us so much.

From the article, I learned Ms. Whitebear is the Associate Director of the Native American Longhouse Eena Haws, which is a center for education and community for the local college (as well as a resource for the greater community). On Indigenous Peoples Day I went there to listen to the town’s Mayor read (and then sign) a proclamation honoring the holiday. The presentation by the students and Ms. Whitebear was fascinating. Afterwards I introduced myself to her, but wasn’t able to spend any time beyond that. One of the professors said I could come back during regular hours and explore the Longhouse. This may offer me more opportunity to meet people in this community.

Meeting Ms. Whitebear Lessons

• Follow what lights you up. While watching the students present their histories, I noticed how my whole body felt at attention. Unlike the plant seminar where I was sneaking peaks at social media. I know that I will return again, to try again to connect with this community and see where the adventure takes me.
• My perspective on history has shifted. I no longer am at ease with the European version of history that has been taught in schools since people first started coming to North America. I don’t feel it’s revisionist, or that by including an older history we are wiping out what happened in the last 150-300 years.
• Awkwardness is okay. Just try. I had practiced what I wanted to say to Ms. Whitebear, and it came out awkward. Instead of beating myself up and worrying what she thought, I appreciated that I tried. So what if she may have thought I was a stalker, or whacked out white woman, or potentially wanting to sell her something. Any story my mind can make up is just that – my story. How can I know what she thinks? All I know is I was being my true self, and what else matters?

Adventures in the ‘Hood – part 3?

The next adventures that you expressed interest in will take time. The art open studio tours are coming up in the next few weeks. The ecstatic dance is on Sunday mornings (hmmm, will I get up in time?). The meditation circle has me nervous, as research has shown this may be a cult-like group. Maybe because I’m nervous, I will have to check it out first-hand (as I doubt there is any real danger involved). Are there any other ideas for Adventures in the ‘Hood you’d like me to try (think of ones that would inspire you to try too!)

To make the walking tour of old homes more of an adventure, I am considering making it into an event. Set a date, and see who shows up. If I can do this with fabric shops and chocolate stores in New York City, I “should” be able to do it here. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!