How mysterious! I have a story too that involves walking, water drainage, and left ankle being cramped. Left leg connecting us across the planet and ages!
The tech city Bangalore has a huge water drainage crisis because it was developed haphazardly under the pressure of mass migration from other parts of the country. Intense climate change waves started to hit around 2015 and unseasonal rain led to flooding and water logging around the outskirts. A few hundred metres next to where I was stationed, there was a side walk bridging the underground drainage which overflowed and broke it. As soon the water subsided and the streets became walkable again, I was eager to go out. I didn’t realise the rainwater broke the stone slabs cemented over the drains. In midst of the hassle of walking quickly and safely away from the dangerous traffic, I stepped in between two massive shards and my left foot twisted bad and I fell into the drain. It was embarrassing beyond belief! I put on a crepe bandage and wore slippers to work for the next 7 days!
The infrastructure has slowly improved but water logging, unseasonal rain, and lack of safety while crossing the traffic in Indian cities still remains a huge problem.
John so many essays hidden in so many stories and yet we only recall them when we talk to one another, when we connect. That’s when we feel most alive, like Nia pointed out in her essay. These injuries connect us to one another, as if we are individual cells of a macro-cosmic entity and yet all these brokenness of the world separates us!
Thank you for this anecdote, it reminded me of the interconnected of all things and beings. 💜
A great post! Thanks for sharing. I started a women-only walking group here in my homeland of Northern Ireland 4 years ago after spending many years hiking with my husband and sons. I found being in the mountains so beneficial that I had to share it with others. We mostly hike in the Mourne Mountains, but sometimes on the Causeway Coastal Route too (which is part of the the International Appalachian Trail) and I've found that walking side-by-side with women of all ages from all walks of life is a real leveller - there's so much wisdom and support shared. Some of the best friends I've ever made have been on the trails. Also, Hurrah for Bob and co. You were very well looked after indeed!
I'm glad you've found a group there. My hiking friends are the most enduring male friendships I have. It's one of the few arenas where men get to talk.
Your hiking area sounds wonderful. I love the idea of the Appalachian Trail extending into Europe. One of these days, I'll hike some of those sections.
When I was growing up my mother had a hiking group of all women that called themselves something like Wagtails or Scalliwags, I don't remember! Somehow these groups really can keep people together.
I'm lucky to have an incredibly close group of friends. Close, and intertwined with one another, and we do different things. With some, I hike; with others, I gather and make dinner; sometimes they intersect. What's really wonderful is that we live in my own hometown, but my (male) spouse has managed to form his own group of hiking and cycling companions out of people I've been friends with since we were teenagers, and those friends' spouses and extended families. I know it's more rare for men to have these close friend relationships, and it's really something to see.
Perhaps fittingly for the day following that post, today has been filled with friend group activities with hiking, music, and biking friends. Almost all of as in all of those groups came to the island later in life, and if not explicitly seeking community, we had a mindset that was open to it. Either way, the island is fertile soil for community.
All of which has me wondering if your town is special that way too, or if it has more to do with the depth of your roots there?
I think both. A number of our closest friends, individually and as a couple, are people I’ve been friends with since high school; but a number are also people who’ve moved here since, years ago or recently. But I think the infrastructure of the place has a lot to do with drawing the kinds of people who care about community to it. (This is the subject of an unpublished essay long in the vault. Related to your comment that it’s not about people explicitly seeking something, but has a mindset open to it.)
Yes! Translating good ideas into code changes. I just spent a pleasant few hours over a few beers in a local bar brainstorming with the public works director, planning director, mayor and her wife of one of our small towns - four women I've known and worked with for a number of years - some comments on the county's comprehensive plan update.
My support groups are currently two monthly Dungeons & Dragons meetups with different folks. I have a good friend I sometimes hike with, but it seems like 40-65 is a tough time for friendship. I have joined a local outdoors club for biking and hiking, and I'm the youngest there, mid-fifties. Once I don't have any grandkids or dogs to talk about, the conversation usually fizzles.
I spent 25 years from 35 to 60 in New Jersey. After quitting corporate life at 40 I was able to meet people through a bike club, then a yacht club, a choir. But they were all separate groups, scattered over the Monmouth County Bayshore. There was no overlap. None lived in our neighborhood. In 25 years of shopping at the same grocery store, I never saw anyone I knew in there. I hope things are a little better down there in OC further from the commuter belt. It's an artifact of the way we've designed modern life.
It's different here, but I think pretty rare. I wish I could clone it.
I loved this post because I grew up just south of Seattle and for the last 20 years my parents have lived on the peninsula. Your photos are wonderful.
So nice to read about finding a group of supportive friends. About 2 years ago I began ice skating, and I found a great group of adult skaters. I fell and sustained injuries that have kept me mostly off the ice since November, and I've realized I miss the companionship more than the activity. Hard to imagine how you hiked out with that broken bone!
I first skated in PNW in the mid-70's, training pretty seriously. It was short-lived; I was too old when I started and my parents didn't have the resources for me to go the distance. When I went back to skating, it was after a 45 year absence. It's been a bit of a journey.
I remember that one. I was at a small rink in Burien. My coach came from Wagon Wheel and had trained with Janet Lynn, so it was the Olympics or nothing if you worked with her.
Whew! Thank you, Bob, and the person with tape, and the former medical partner….. It’s good to be reminded there is neither pleasure nor sense in going it alone. This is a nice story to tell long afterward.
How mysterious! I have a story too that involves walking, water drainage, and left ankle being cramped. Left leg connecting us across the planet and ages!
I want to read that story!
Hehe that’s a pretty awkward story!
The tech city Bangalore has a huge water drainage crisis because it was developed haphazardly under the pressure of mass migration from other parts of the country. Intense climate change waves started to hit around 2015 and unseasonal rain led to flooding and water logging around the outskirts. A few hundred metres next to where I was stationed, there was a side walk bridging the underground drainage which overflowed and broke it. As soon the water subsided and the streets became walkable again, I was eager to go out. I didn’t realise the rainwater broke the stone slabs cemented over the drains. In midst of the hassle of walking quickly and safely away from the dangerous traffic, I stepped in between two massive shards and my left foot twisted bad and I fell into the drain. It was embarrassing beyond belief! I put on a crepe bandage and wore slippers to work for the next 7 days!
The infrastructure has slowly improved but water logging, unseasonal rain, and lack of safety while crossing the traffic in Indian cities still remains a huge problem.
That's a great story! I'm sensing a rich vein of essay material here.
John so many essays hidden in so many stories and yet we only recall them when we talk to one another, when we connect. That’s when we feel most alive, like Nia pointed out in her essay. These injuries connect us to one another, as if we are individual cells of a macro-cosmic entity and yet all these brokenness of the world separates us!
Thank you for this anecdote, it reminded me of the interconnected of all things and beings. 💜
I love this so much. The name of the group, the walking together, the beer trips, the support group 💓💓 I wish more men had a group like this!
Thanks Lindsey. I wish they did too. I have a feeling we'd have fewer societal problems if more men had something like this.
A great post! Thanks for sharing. I started a women-only walking group here in my homeland of Northern Ireland 4 years ago after spending many years hiking with my husband and sons. I found being in the mountains so beneficial that I had to share it with others. We mostly hike in the Mourne Mountains, but sometimes on the Causeway Coastal Route too (which is part of the the International Appalachian Trail) and I've found that walking side-by-side with women of all ages from all walks of life is a real leveller - there's so much wisdom and support shared. Some of the best friends I've ever made have been on the trails. Also, Hurrah for Bob and co. You were very well looked after indeed!
Thank you, Kelly!
I'm glad you've found a group there. My hiking friends are the most enduring male friendships I have. It's one of the few arenas where men get to talk.
Your hiking area sounds wonderful. I love the idea of the Appalachian Trail extending into Europe. One of these days, I'll hike some of those sections.
If you ever come across the pond, do let me know and I'll happily point you in the direction of some of my favourite trails!
I get back to England from time to time. I have yet to visit your part of the world.
When I was growing up my mother had a hiking group of all women that called themselves something like Wagtails or Scalliwags, I don't remember! Somehow these groups really can keep people together.
I'm lucky to have an incredibly close group of friends. Close, and intertwined with one another, and we do different things. With some, I hike; with others, I gather and make dinner; sometimes they intersect. What's really wonderful is that we live in my own hometown, but my (male) spouse has managed to form his own group of hiking and cycling companions out of people I've been friends with since we were teenagers, and those friends' spouses and extended families. I know it's more rare for men to have these close friend relationships, and it's really something to see.
It's so lovely to read this.
Perhaps fittingly for the day following that post, today has been filled with friend group activities with hiking, music, and biking friends. Almost all of as in all of those groups came to the island later in life, and if not explicitly seeking community, we had a mindset that was open to it. Either way, the island is fertile soil for community.
All of which has me wondering if your town is special that way too, or if it has more to do with the depth of your roots there?
I think both. A number of our closest friends, individually and as a couple, are people I’ve been friends with since high school; but a number are also people who’ve moved here since, years ago or recently. But I think the infrastructure of the place has a lot to do with drawing the kinds of people who care about community to it. (This is the subject of an unpublished essay long in the vault. Related to your comment that it’s not about people explicitly seeking something, but has a mindset open to it.)
I'm looking forward to that essay and comparing notes. If only we could bottle it and give it away to other communities.
Well we can! It’s infrastructure and planning. It’s just the social aspect that enables the political will to make it happen that’s tricky …
Yes! Translating good ideas into code changes. I just spent a pleasant few hours over a few beers in a local bar brainstorming with the public works director, planning director, mayor and her wife of one of our small towns - four women I've known and worked with for a number of years - some comments on the county's comprehensive plan update.
My support groups are currently two monthly Dungeons & Dragons meetups with different folks. I have a good friend I sometimes hike with, but it seems like 40-65 is a tough time for friendship. I have joined a local outdoors club for biking and hiking, and I'm the youngest there, mid-fifties. Once I don't have any grandkids or dogs to talk about, the conversation usually fizzles.
I spent 25 years from 35 to 60 in New Jersey. After quitting corporate life at 40 I was able to meet people through a bike club, then a yacht club, a choir. But they were all separate groups, scattered over the Monmouth County Bayshore. There was no overlap. None lived in our neighborhood. In 25 years of shopping at the same grocery store, I never saw anyone I knew in there. I hope things are a little better down there in OC further from the commuter belt. It's an artifact of the way we've designed modern life.
It's different here, but I think pretty rare. I wish I could clone it.
I'm in Camden County and I've started joining Philly groups, which has helped. Thanks for sharing, it hasn't changed much here in the burbs.
Ah, OK, for some reason I had you in Ocean County.
I love the love this post expresses.
Thank you!
Hi John,
I loved this post because I grew up just south of Seattle and for the last 20 years my parents have lived on the peninsula. Your photos are wonderful.
So nice to read about finding a group of supportive friends. About 2 years ago I began ice skating, and I found a great group of adult skaters. I fell and sustained injuries that have kept me mostly off the ice since November, and I've realized I miss the companionship more than the activity. Hard to imagine how you hiked out with that broken bone!
Thanks Rita! Companionship is so important. Coincidentally, my wife was a competitive skater and coach for many years.
Where did she skate?
Started out in the PNW, then Denver, NYC, NJ
I first skated in PNW in the mid-70's, training pretty seriously. It was short-lived; I was too old when I started and my parents didn't have the resources for me to go the distance. When I went back to skating, it was after a 45 year absence. It's been a bit of a journey.
My wife started in the mid 70s too. SnoKing was one rink.
I remember that one. I was at a small rink in Burien. My coach came from Wagon Wheel and had trained with Janet Lynn, so it was the Olympics or nothing if you worked with her.
Whew! Thank you, Bob, and the person with tape, and the former medical partner….. It’s good to be reminded there is neither pleasure nor sense in going it alone. This is a nice story to tell long afterward.
...and we're still telling it! It's Bob's 80th birthday coming up. I plan to show up in an ortho boot with a pair of crutches.
Haha! That sounds like just the thing to touch of a fresh round of the story as remembered by several different people. :-)