Boats and Quotes

“To reach a port we must set sail –
Sail, not tie at anchor
Sail, not drift.” 
― Franklin D. Roosevelt

“I spent uncounted hours sitting at the bow looking at the water and the sky, studying each wave, different from the last, seeing how it caught the light, the air, the wind; watching patterns, the sweep of it all, and letting it take me.
The sea.” 
― Gary Paulsen, Caught by the Sea

“There’s nothing––absolutely nothing––half so much worth doing as messing about in boats.” 
― Kenneth Grahame, The Wind In The Willows

“If a man must be obsessed by something, I suppose a boat is as good as anything, perhaps a bit better than most. A small sailing craft is not only beautiful, it is seductive and full of strange promise and the hint of trouble.” 
― E.B. White

“I feel there is something almost sacred about building a boat ... It is almost like creating a living being, a boat seems to have a soul and character all her own ... It requires more thought to give a boat a good name than it does a child.” 
― John Guzzwell, Trekka Round the World

We sailed the seas...

It was brief but it checked lots of boxes.

Our mini-break.

The hotel we were so excited to return to has changed hands and was a little less than hoped but
still a much enjoyed hot pool and king size bed experience.  Followed by a lovely walk in the neighbourhood the next morning with Mount Baker looming large and clear although it's in another country and many miles away.

David survived St Pats on Campus with Lindsay and enjoyed hanging with the Uni peeps and attending 3 classes with her on Friday before we scooped them up and headed for the ferry to Salt Spring Island.

Being on or close to the water is such a joy for me.  I really can't get enough of the boats and the ocean and the mountains.

Whenever I book a vacation rental on AirBnB or VRBO or even directly with the owners from a listing, I am usually holding my breath as we arrive hoping that my highly developed detective skills have not missed a glaring fault with the place.... we have had a few "incidents" in the past but this time things were almost exactly as I hoped.  No surprises.  The quaint tiny cottage was perfectly set up by a thoughtful owner which made for our easy enjoyment. PHEW.  The added bonus of it being a  fully sustainable little farm we were on with an array of colorful chickens producing colorful, organic eggs suited us to a T...and on a tidal inlet...and with eagles in the tree across the water.

The weather cooperated mostly and I felt the warmth of sunshine on my face a couple of times...once on this beautiful beach where I could have spent a great deal of time...and Lindsay contemplated dropping out of University and becoming a Salt Spring Hippie.

We explored a bit, found the cheese company and sampled cheese and the kids played with the kids.

Wandered in towns and villages, visited a winery and took a beautiful hike through the forest to a beach.

We sat under ever changing skies in the hot tub and talked of all manner of things.

We cooked and ate well and enjoyed long stretches of down time.  Movies were watched. Books read.

And then it was time to leave.  Two ferries.  One goodbye (if only for a couple days).

And now home with a very happy puppy that was well loved at home by his new fans Erik and Ana.

It was a lovely and gentle way to welcome Spring and take a deep breath.  We left much to explore for when we return...as we shall.

Change of Plans

It's Spring Break.

My timehop app reminds me how we usually feel at Spring Break.

We usually feel like fleeing.

South.

5 of the last 8 years we have hit the road as the final school bell tolled.

It's true we have had a warm and sunny winter but the last two weeks have hurled a lot of rain and wind our way and my cells know there is sun somewhere and they are on high alert.

But.

With 2 University Students in our family of 4 who do not get Spring Break my sun cells are out of luck.

We are not heading south.

However despite no vacay time and budget of close to zero thanks to tuition payments I hatched
a crafty plan to a) leave home b) leave the dog c) have a break d) have an adventure e) have all
my peeps all to myself for 3 whole days!

win-win-win-win-win

We set sail on our cruise ship ferry on Thursday and like all responsible parents we are sending David to have a UVic experience with his sister..... on St.Patricks Day!!  Yikes.

Allan and I will check in to our fave hotel and soak in the hot mineral pools on the oceans edge for one kidless night.  I think we are both literally hanging on until we don the fluffy white robes and wander down to the pool and sink into the warm water and sip a beer.

We don't even care if it rains.

On Friday we pick up the Uni kids after class and head off on a small ferry to Salt Spring Island to this delightful cottage for 3 nights. It has an ocean view and a hot tub we intend to sit in and watch the stars.

We haven't spent a lot of time on the Gulf Islands so this checks a few boxes in the exploring and discovery department.  It is merely a coincidence that this particular island has it's own coffee roasting company.

Lindsay is ready for some home cooking after her longest stretch at UVic without coming home so we have a meal plan that satisfies her top requests - so steak, steak, steak and rice.   And we plan to do some walks, some naps, some reading and lots of hanging out and chatting and catching up.

It won't be Disney, or San Diego or Monterey or Laguna but it will be just right for us, for now.

And if the sun shines with a tiny bit of warmth my cells will do a little happy dance.

Ohmmmmmm

I was gifted a month of free yoga at Christmas. 

Somehow I just couldn't find the time to get there with soccer and teaching and Allan's schedule.

But soccer is over and my nights have freed up somewhat and I have been going to yoga.

  

I go to two classes of Restorative Yoga - both start at 7:15pm and are gentle and lovely, dimmed lights, blankets, music, good, long stretches, lots of deep, slow breathing.... 

And meditation.

Which is where is all kind of falls apart for me. 

And also why I need to go so badly.

It is no revelation to anyone that I have a very busy mind.  

Very.

So while I can sink into the various poses, stretch my very tight muscles, feel the tension and knots unwind... I cannot, for any length of time (say a minute or so) keep my mind from wandering.  

One of the instructors is so good at the guided meditation and I try SO HARD to stay with her.  This week we were to focus on a tree, a beautiful tree.....well... just deciding on which tree took me a few minutes... leaves or no leaves?, on a hill or on the river bank?, tall or short?, symmetrical......OK OK.... I finally had a tree I could live with.

We were to breath in deeply - the tree was giving us fresh clean beautiful air and then as we exhaled we filled the tree up with breath.... lovely..... except my tree suddenly seemed inflatable and every time I breathed in its air it collapsed.... and when I breathed out it reinflated.... it was both funny and a bit alarming...Then I got competitive with the tree - I breathed out every last drop of air in my lungs to make it big and beautiful and vibrant but then I didn't let it give me too much air - I didn't want to be over-inflated  - I wanted to give it more.....until I realised I was in a breath deficit and feeling a bit woozy (I  also remembered that trees and humans are not inflatable - DUH).  All the time I am having 50 thoughts a minute about the tree, my own state of mind, the papers I have to mark, the emails I need to send, the things on my to do list, the fact I realise I have odd socks on, the lady with the heavy breathing across the room, kicking myself for eating chickpea salad for lunch... I find myself silently chanting "tree, tree tree" just to keep my mind on the tree.

Despite my best efforts and the reminders from the Yogi to keep paying attention to the tree I am distracted, to say the least.

But the harder I try, the more I sink into the rhythm of my breathing, the more fleeting moments I do actually manage to stop my mind... And I feel very free in that moment.  To be free of my anxious internal dialogue for even a few moments is restful and unusual and something I want more of. Which will clearly take a miracle practice.  A lot of practice.

I have taken a couple other classes and some are truly hard - a very challenging work out and a sad reminder of how inflexible I am physically.  It's a caring and lovely community of folks, embracing of all sizes and shapes and ages.  I still feel a bit awkward not knowing all the lingo and the poses and the protocols but I'm getting it slowly.

I still live for the final relaxation part of every class when stretched muscles relax and my mind is finally slowing down and the full belly, lung breathing has enlivened all my cells....the quiet (save for the gentle snores of some) moment when all I have to be do is be.

And then a gentle return to the world.  

I don't know how long my yoga journey will be but I am trusting it is what I need for now - physically and mentally and even spiritually as I use the time and space to breathe prayers for myself and others.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing my tree again on Wednesday.

Lessons from an office move

I moved offices yesterday.  

After 16 years in one office this is the second move in a year. 

I have emerged from the dark, windowless, hallway office to light and expansive
views of the second floor corner office with windows on 3 sides. 

That's it right?

Corner office with a view.

A R R I V E D 

Career goal achieved.

Well. 

Not exactly.  

I do indeed have the big desk back after a year of much less real estate. I am indeed on the second floor staring out of a window to the actual outside world.

And so are my two colleagues. 

Also in my same office.

In a clear reminder that the non-profit world is different.  That child care centres are designed for children and Educators but not Administrators.  That just because an architect gives a room a designation doesn't mean you can't change it....

Here we three sit.  In the previous "staff room".  Trying to negotiate space and noise and the printer and the phone.

Despite the obvious challenges it is, for me,  a very small price to pay for the light and the view.  My spirits are already lifted.  And in this early part of the day as the sun creeps over the horizon I am alone... and the sudden noisiness of my typing which I suddenly noticed seemed so loud yesterday is only for my ears.  For now.

Another step on this funny journey of work/career/service.  A step that will teach me things...like patience and focus and collaboration and how to type more quietly.

Now excuse me , the sun is in my eye..... Ahhhhhh yes. 

Driving the Edges

I live in Richmond BC, Canada

As you can see it has a river on the north and  river on the south (actually the same river but stay with me here).  It is a fertile river delta with abundant (if sadly diminishing) farmland.  And it is also a vibrant city with distinct neighbourhoods.

Laid out in a grid with unimaginative east to west street names No 1 Rd, No 2 Rd, No 3 Rd each a mile apart all the way to No 9 Rd.

I live between No 1 Rd and the ocean in the bottom left corner.

The very cool thing, and the point of this geographic post (Hello I AM a geography major!) is that with a little time and imagination one can drive the edges of this island and enjoy beautiful views, winding roads, light traffic and multiple places to pull over and take a photo.

Which, of course, I do.

In fact I try and drive the riverside roads as much as is possible. North and South.  And when I have to get from North to South I find farm roads.

People in our city complain endlessly about traffic and other drivers and I have been know to loose my temper from time to time when going back and forth across the centre of the City is unavoidable but there are chances and choices to get away from that and I never miss them.

I love to see the river change through the seasons, from dawn to dusk.   I have lived here almost 17 years and I never tire of it.  Today after doing groceries on No 5 Rd I headed south and I felt myself let out a sigh of contentment as I drove up onto the dyke and saw the river calm and clear, grey skies, grey water.....but there.....always there.

If you live here - drive the edges folks....do it.  Spot the eagles, herons, horses, mountains, islands, boats.... breathe in deeply!  We are so lucky to live here!

If you don't live here, come and visit.... I'll drive you around the edges. We'll walk the dykes.  You won't be sorry.

Last hurrah

Well...it's conference week.

180 delegates.  35 or so volunteers and presenters.

Of course, it therefore stands to reason, this is the week I would be dealt a knocked-out-of-circulation blow from food poisoning.

And just when you may be thinking that my recent "Just in time-ness" may have finally caught up with me.

No way Hosea.

"Just in time" may work for many things but for a conference with 220 individuals who need confirmations, receipts, name badges, personal valet attention.... there is no "just in time".  There is nothing but a well oiled planning, system and it better be firing on all cylinders...way ahead of time.

So despite my 48 hours in the belly of the beast I am poised on the eve of conference - weary but ready.

And this is not just any conference.

This is the end of EventAbility.  My dear partner Joyce B and I will hit this one into the bleachers tomorrow, do the usual mop up in the week ahead and then we will close up shop. (Unless we get a lucrative contract in the Bahamas).

What a run it has been.

We have done this event planning thing for over a decade.  From local to international conferences, dinners and symposiums.  We have worked long nights starting when my little people would go to bed and I would start registering delegates.

Oh the delegate stories we can tell.  And the harrowing stories of presenters not showing or being late.  AV disasters. Catering snafoos.  Allergic reactions.

But my overriding memories will be of sore feet and lots of laughter.

Joyce and I would often get take-out after a long day and split a bottle of wine and do a post-mortem of the event.

We have had some wonderful, wonderful days, met some amazing folks, been interesting places, fulfilled directives from clients we could not have dreamed up.   We have also had some very hard days that wore us down - in the last couple of years more so and thus, in the end, the decision to call it a day came relatively easy.  When the joy does not trump the hard work and long hours it's time.  It's time to register one last delegate, clean up after one last catered lunch, write one last report and maybe, instead of take out, one last wonderful meal on our company dime before we retire.

EventAbility bought us vacations and even a car in the good old days when we did multiple events a year and in the last few years it bought summer camp, dental work and a boost to holiday retail.  I will miss that for sure.


But mostly I will miss working beside Joyce.  Such a friend, mentor, visionary, utterly unflappable under pressure, polite and smiling to the end.  JB - thanks for the ride partner, and for being you and working so hard.

We've talked each other off the ledge more than once and more than once caught each others eye across the full auditorium and rolled our eyes ... I think we'll have stories to tell for quite a few years to come.

Thank you.

Thank you EventAbility - my one and only foray in entrepreneurship - we did it.

And now, after one last run through my Night-Before-Checklist and I am falling in to bed to await the 6am alarm.