I have lost track of the number of weeks here, but I do know that there are only 96 more days of camp! That's crazy. When I pulled in May 1st, I thought "Man, six months here is going to be wild and super long." But here we are almost at the exact halfway point, and I feel like I just got here. I had so many plans to get healthy in a way I thought was the best for my body and my mind. Turns out, I didn't need that at all. Yeah, I may be twenty pounds thicker than I was this time last year, but I'm healthy - I'm getting in my veggies, drinking so so much water, and being active every single day. With the thickness comes healing, and with healing - peace!
But enough deep and meaningful shit - getting back from Canada was met with a whirlwind of changes at camp. The only other night audit at camp up and left the Saturday I returned. Apparently, he wasn't vibing with his roommates and was saying some really off-kilter stuff. Slurs and anti-LGBTQ types, and we don't fuck with that. So I'm not upset he left. And, to top it off, I FINALLY get a full 40 hours like I was promised when I started. I was barely getting 30 because he HAD to work 4 nights and I only got 3, and nothing I said changed it. Bottom line? Boi, bye. I'm working five days a week now, with about 14 hours a shift, so it's been rough getting sleep, but I'll take it. I'm managing, even if that management system involves booze.
Second! The only other gal living in my house of four guys from Turkey and Columbia left Friday. She's been really struggling and started talking about leaving camp three days in because it wasn't what she thought it'd be. And I totally get that, it also wasn't what I thought - or was told - it was. But it's money and it's a new experience, and I've grinned and bared it, but she wouldn't. And good for her! Go after what you want in life, never settle, even if it means finding another source of income and starting over somewhere new. That's been my journey in a nut shell, so more power to her! In the words of the youths - GO PISS GIRL!
Third - ever since July started, Liv and Katie and I have been plunging into the ocean, rain or shine, every single day. We started a few days before July, but promised we'd do it every day in July, and as Liv claims, every single day left this season - even in October when it's snowing. I may get hypothermia, but oh well! It's good for the soul. Even when I am dead tired, coming off of a fifteen hour night shift, no sleep the day before and barely any food in my system... I am out in those waves. I am floating, diving, dipping and living. Since starting this, I have actually been sleeping better. Deeper, even. More consistently. And my skin has started healing itself. I have less blemishes, less redness. I honestly think these daily dips are healing us inside and out.
Not to totally flip the script, but - I MISS TARA O'BRIEN. So so dearly. And she's my first stop when I leave here, only 96 more days. It's hard being away from my people and best friends. But this is the life I've chosen, the life I love, and the life I never want to give up. Missing people is part of it, albeit a shitty part. I feel like we've been away from each other much longer than this and have managed, and I have faith in us. I have so many stories to tell her about camp and my journey and my ocean plunges and Canadian campsites. That's going to be the best part - catching up!
The plan going forward is, thus far, GET THROUGH CAMP - then, home to Tara in October. Get the last two weeks of the RenFair in. Stay for probably two whole weeks, but not more than four, just to hang out, see some people, get some storage unit stuff figured out, and then scoot back out west. Visit people on the way out, pit stop to pick up a kayak, and then get back out to Arizona and stay there until the cruise in January, maybe hit up Joshua Tree again. Go on the cruise - drink, have fun, be merry. Apache Junction in March per tradition. Then, hopefully, starting a camp job in Zion in Utah and hiking in my free time. I'm really aiming for the PCT in 2025, and I'm going to hike the hell out of 2024 in preparation. You won't see me getting in a walk-3000-miles type of shape this year, and that's okay. You mostly train for the PCT as you walk the PCT. There's no set level or way to hit Mile One.
See you on the flip side, homies! Jump in a body of water this week - you won't be disappointed!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
ReplyDelete