There are times in life where a person must decide to do silly and unnecessary things. This is one of those times.
I have decided to attempt to spend the entire two months on the rainy, 40-50 degree island in a tent in the woods. Of course, I will continue to work and socialize with my team on a daily basis, and really will only sleep and read at the tent, but it's a start. This is a good opportunity for me to live one of my desires (or at lease live part of it). I want to live with nothing so I may appreciate everything. Perhaps this time in the woods will help me appreciate a warm, soft bed and consistent heat.
Today we used chainsaws to cut down a fair amount of shrubs and trees to hold off nature from overrunning the camp. Tomorrow much of the same. The day before we were given a tour of the camp and also the nearby town.
This is HIPPIE ISLAND. Everyone's a hippie and there are more books on "gemstone healing" than there are grains of sand on the beach. Everything is small and quaint and the people are all old hippies that I expect grow a lot of drugs in their backyards.
There aren't any chain stores that I'm aware of; the community is vehemently opposed to big business and any kind of non-weirdness on the island. In fact, they're so "pro-strange" that the island's slogan (which can be purchased in various forms) is "Keep Vashon Weird".
I don't think the project sponsors here are ready for our kind of intensity. They seem very relaxed and laid back, and our "out-produce everyone" philosophy seems to be a bit out of order with their own style. Hopefully we can come to a happy middle ground and get a lot of work done (and maybe chill out a bit more too).
Until next time, stay awesome everyone. Also COMMENT OR I'LL DISOWN YOU! Comments are the only way I judge whether or not people value my life, which is the only way I judge how much to value my own. If you get my drift. Low comments = possible death.
Do you really want that on your conscience?
-J
Yay you found a way to follow the path of Into the Wild without the complete lack of social apspects and the impending death. I hope this helps you to find what your looking for! Be careful! Stick to eating normal food and not random berries please! Explore the island of weird and come back with lots of entertaining stories!
ReplyDelete-Summer
Show us the pictures!
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea how jealous I am of these opportunities you are encountering. I love the NW and am certain you will have a great time. Show us a picture of your tent-site.
ReplyDeleteWhen your mother and I moved there in '84 I assured her the rain was just "a gentle mist" in the winter. That was a bit optimistic, but, one can make peace with the rain and come to love it because of the green and lush beauty it supports.
Reminder: Take more pictures than you should and be sure that you include people (and yourself) in them. Step two: send them to me please so that I can see what I'm missing.
Dad
Great to see a blog post about your vision quest in the tent. I am happy you are doing your part to keep Vashon weird (send me a mug, please). You know that the description you gave of the people makes me want to move there.
ReplyDeleteI will try and get more comments to you so you will not die, because we are all trying to live vicariously through you...
Don't eat any mushrooms. Liver transplants are expensive, and giant scars on your stomach not from tree accidents look uncool.
Dr. Mom
I'm assuming that means giant scars on my stomach from tree accidents do look cool. SWEET! I've got to get on it then...
ReplyDeleteComment duly posted. Sorry my health keeps me from participating more. I read all your blog and think you're awesome--but then I always have, except when you ran the hassock with casters into my table! Love, Guess Who? PS.-do they have any "keep Vashon wierd" bumper stickers? for Guess Who?
ReplyDeleteThe only person I know who would say "hassock with casters" would be my Grandma... And yes, there are "keep Vashon weird" bumper stickers... Where would I send them?
ReplyDeleteMan that is stinkin' awesome. I have always wanted to do something like that, but have only been able to for days at a time...so I must live vicariously through you (for now).
ReplyDeleteI dont know we will be able to meet or anything, but I am coming to the Redwoods in three weeks for spring break. We will be backpacking in the Redwood national park and should get there on the 15th so if anything, I should be in your area. You are so lucky to be living up there, even if it sucks at times. And remember "...the lust for comfort murders the passion of the soul, and then walks grinning in the funeral."
Interesting that the mother and the mother of the mother both want "Keep Vashon Weird" stuff...
ReplyDeleteThis whole "living in a tent" thing confuses me. Does the tent have electrical outlets powerful enough to support an Xbox 360 with HDTV and full internet access? I'm just assuming you brought a couple of generators and a satellite uplink of some kind, otherwise you wouldn't be able to game yourself to sleep at night...
ReplyDelete-Kevin