To say that it’s been a tremendously glorious Spring would be nothing short of a colossal understatement. Particularly coming off the heels of a cloistered, compressed existence that all of us faced up until very recently, it feels positively transcendent. Things have gravitated more toward some semblance of normalcy and it’s been a delight to actively and joyously spring into Spring.
Aside from a sense of unbridled moxie and the resplendence of the lush Washington countryside, is a potent undercurrent of freedom and positivity; a lightness in life that has seemingly been absent for a goodly while. And while there has been significant change in my life this year, all of it has, in its way, been both meaningful and powerfully awakening.
MY GREAT FLING WITH SPRING
What has been extremely exciting is finally being able to venture out, meet new people, build relationships and become a part of the local and regional community. My new post-punk band has officially formed and we can now finally physically be together each week to enjoy each other’s company as we create some rather magical art together. Literally months of writing and composing virtually means we already have a very solid repertoire and are poised to play out live once things open up a bit more. Anyway, a comprehensive update is forthcoming.
Equally invigorating is meeting so many new and wonderful people. I’ve discovered a number of amazing social and special-interests groups and have been actively participating. It feels as if suddenly, I now have a fully formed cadre of friends to share in many of my interests and passions beyond music, such as board-gaming, kayaking, hiking, reading and the arts. There’s always something going on and great, new friends to share it with.
On top of all of this, is having the ability to do more geographical exploring, both rural and urban. I’ve gotten out to new lakes to fish, mountains to hike, and had many other notable outdoor adventures. In addition, it’s been exhilarating to experience many of the charms of “The Big Smoke.” Be it museums, parks, fine and low-brow dining, hipster joints, record & book stores, it’s been a blast to finally discover and partake in everything my new area has to offer.
So, if that were all, I could authentically deem this Spring as one of my all-time bests, but it gets even better still. Regular readers are aware that one of my annual goals for this year and last was to serve in the community; specifically by volunteering at the local animal sanctuary. After well over a year of waiting, they finally began accepting and training new volunteers. Needless to say, I was the first to sign up and have now been dedicating time weekly since mid-March.
CATS, CATS BABY!
It truly has been such a magnificent experience. The sanctuary is primarily for cats, although we have capacity for a few pups and just completed a successful fundraiser to build additional space for them. All told we have about 45-50 kitties and about 4 pups in residence on any given day. The sanctuary is exceptionally well run and has a treasured place in the heart of the local community and, as such, the fuzzy critters are generally placed in loving homes very quickly.
As one can easily imagine, there are some tasks that are perceived as less glamorous and attractive than others, which are those where the need is greatest. So every week, you can find Mr. Fate getting busy scrubbing dishes and litter pans, laundering and folding blankets, mopping floors and other delightful aspects of hard-core cat butlering. It really is a great personal feeling to serve and I can get in a bit of light cardio to boot! Afterwards, its always a treat to spend a little time hanging with the kitties and pups and playing around a bit.
I’ve also met a ton of amazing, dedicated and cool people at the sanctuary, all of whom are very local. In that regard, it’s nice to have friends nearby. Most importantly, becoming affiliated with such a stellar, noble organization is that I am finally feeling a part of the community. I found that it is something I treasure and did not have in Southern California. Maybe it’s just difficult to achieve in a “village” of 22 million people or maybe it was simply me. However, in a community of 4,800 I found it to be easier and immensely enjoyable.
Lastly, is that I’ve made arrangements to formally re-activate my social enterprise, otherwise known as my side hustle that saves lives. I’ll be back in the business of “soap makin’, kitty savin’” with all product being sold at, and all proceeds being directly donated to, the animal sanctuary!
So there’s my Spring in brief. It seems like it was an agonizing, interminable wait for things to get moving again, but I’m definitely doing everything possible to make up for lost time.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
How has your Spring been? With things getting back to some bit of normal, have you been doing any new activities, getting back out, planning adventures? As always, I’d love to hear from you!
I love hearing that you are finding your place in the local community. After spending my last few years in a larger area in Florida, it’s nice to be spending a second summer up here in the northwest in a small community. I was warmly welcomed in my emergency room last year, and this year the ER and the community have welcomed me back like family. Now if it would just stay warmer so my no-longer-a-northern-girl self can stop whining about being cold.
I can’t wait until you are producing your soap again and I can do my part to support the fuzzy babies without adopting another one. Frango, the elderly, handsome chocolate kitty, has earned his status as only feline for his remaining years so I am scared to set foot in a shelter. Kudos to you for not bringing one home every day and becoming the crazy cat guy. Your will power is clearly greater than mine.
Cheers to a summer of soap making, cat butlering, hiking, fishing and exploring!
Hi Eryn and thanks for the comment. Glad to hear you’re settling in a bit and enjoying life in the INW! Even if it’s a bit cooler than Florida!
Yep, getting bulk soap supplies this weekend and production starts shortly thereafter. I’ll definitely save you some. Totally agree about Frango. Max & Pants are also the only ones for Fate estate. I actually don’t socialize with the kitties at the sanctuary too much because my house would end up as an annex as a result of me taking a few home every week! 😸
Here’s to a wonderful, warm and fun Summer for you as well!
Specfuckingtacular! I couldn’t be happier to hear that your Spring is actually springing! I’m down here in California- studying away and enjoying my personal mini-swamp cooler- as the heat starts climbing. Can’t wait to hear about your upcoming band offerings!
Hi Kelly and thanks for stopping by. Hope So. Cal. is enjoyable and hope you get some time on the sand before summer hits and the beaches get too crowded. Good to hear the studies are coming along swimmingly as well! Here’s to a fantastic and fun Summer!
Fun stuff! Glad that you’re finally able to immerse yourself in your new locale, and it seems like you’ve got a lot of exciting activities in the pipeline. We’re in a similar situation, in that we arrived here in VA in the middle of the pandemic, and we’re just starting to integrate into our environment. We just joined a local pool and have already had decent success establishing some new friends down here. I haven’t quite immersed myself as much as I’d like, though, due to that nagging old job and caring for a couple ankle-biters. All in due time though.. cheers to Spring!
Hay Adam and thanks! You’re totally right – I forgot that you also moved during the pandemic, so you definitely know how it feels to be a newb and trapped. You also now know how great it is to finally begin to settle in to the community. Sounds like you’re well in your way. Look forward to hearing more about your adventures as thing open up more. Here’s to a great Summer!
Awwww, I love this post! I love that you’re finally building a community in your new state and that it includes helping kitties and pups! Your life sounds similar to what is eventually like to create for myself, so I love reading about your post-retirement life and all the things you do to keep busy and create meaning and purpose. Post those soaps! I want some!
Hi Katie and thanks! Glad you enjoyed reading. Yes, it’s been a very fun and rewarding Spring. Finally being able to dip a toe into experiencing and becoming a part of the community is amazing! I will definitely post soap pix! In fact, you just inspired and idea to to an article on it once things get moving along!
glad to hear you’re getting out and about and making some new friends. it can’t be as easy if you’re not “from there” when you move to a smaller town. i hope you post up a link to your store when the soap making juggernaut gets back to rolling along.
outside of a week at the beach we are mostly enjoying the local surroundings. we get to attend a high school graduation party this weekend out of town for one of mrs. smidlap’s old friend’s daughter. we’ll get to be outdoors and catch up with their old crew who are a lot of fun. it is pleasant to get back to seeing folks in person in a relaxed setting. hell, maybe we’ll even find time for a restaurant meal or a drink at the joint where we first met.
well done with the volunteer work. once i pull the employment plug i can forsee working with some work with shelter dogs. it’s easier to get them adopted if they have some basic training and that is really rewarding.
Thanks for the comment Freddy and glad to hear you’re getting out and about as well. It feels awesome! Strangely, I’ve met a ton of people who are CA transplants like me, which is not what I expected. Anyway, it’s just been really invigorating.
Yep, you’ll definitely enjoy working with the pups when the time comes. It’s a struggle not to adopt them all and turn Fate estate into an annex for the sanctuary though 😸
See this is why I like reading your posts, Mr Fate. You open the window to those of us still working for the man about what’s possible when FI is achieved. The volunteering part is especially great to read about. I’m happy that you’re able to get socializing again. That’s a such a key ingredient to happiness. I know the last year has been tough on all of us. I finally went to a wedding last weekend and nobody wore masks (we had to show vaccine cards or negative tests) and it was amazing being around people and shaking hands and hugging and dancing on a packed dance floor. It really boosted my happiness level just getting out and being around people at an event. My weekends are pretty much booked till August, going to the river, graduation parties, golfing with old friends, and possibly camping.
Thanks for the kind words, Noel! Yep, I think all of us is ready to resume some increased socialization and nice to hear you and the family are getting out an about.
I’m the same with things booking up fast. It’s ironic that my calendar seems as full and jam-packed as it did in the working days. Definitely a nice challenge to have though.
Super cool you’re getting out and exploring. Although entirely different, my mom had the kind of same timing as you. She had retired in December 2019 and was locked down a few months later with all retirement traveling cancelled. Her and my dad are currently on their first road trip traveling across the US to see my lil’ bro’s new baby in DC. It’s fun to watch people that had big life transitions in the end of 2019 finally get to take part and enjoy their time. I know that was your particular case with moving to a new area right before the pandemic. Although, moving to the countryside for a pandemic was probably one of the best moves you could have made. Hahaha. Fate was tugging at you.
No big Spring plans for me. Chugging along with the new house but hoping to maybe do a few getaways this summer. But Cali has been gearing up for the State’s big “grand opening” in a week. Although I haven’t been super social, I’ve definitely seen a lot more people the past two months after getting the vaccine. Also just sat in my first restaurant for a work lunch. It felt pretty surreal.
It’s awesome you donate your time helping out with the furry critters and can’t wait to hear more about the band!
Thanks for the comment Q-FI. Totally agree on eating in a restaurant feeling very surreal. I’ve been eating out a ton just experiencing all the great food. I had no idea how much I had missed sushi!
I have to agree that my retirement timing was not necessarily the greatest, but at least it occurred. Just now have to put more energy into making up for lost time. Glad to hear your folks are getting to enjoy as well!
“…more geographical exploring”
Now you’re talkin’ my language! Sounds awesome dude and you live in a beautiful part of the country for sure, I’ve done some exploring in your neighborhood myself back in the day. Our spring in the D.C. area until this week was a real spring! Normally we jump from mild winter right to 90+ degrees but we’ve had a gorgeous spring with cool temps and I’ve been out pretty much every day adventuring. My cycling fitness is already dialed in to peak season levels and I’m looking for some races to enter. I feel better than ever, and if this is aging then I’m good with it
Right on! Yes, it’s been a somewhat dryer and warmer Spring here as well which has made for great exploration conditions! My only gripe is that I ordered a mountain bike on Jan 3 and it still hasn’t arrived. I’m freaking dying to get on all these trails out this way. Glad to hear you’re out enjoying things as well!