I’m watching two kids kayaking on the Intercoastal from the pool deck of our building, gaging whether it’s something I could do comfortably and enjoy. There is a kayak that comes with the condo but I had no interest in trying it out until a friend told me how much she loves kayaking. “It’s like sitting in the water, one with nature and the elements.”
I suggested she come up so we can do it together. She’s staying about 10 miles south of here. I thought it would be wise to do it with someone else for my first try, even though I imagine it’s a solitary experience like skiing or bike riding, even if you’re with friends. Doing something I’ve never done before is both appealing and intimidating. I like the adventure aspect of it but it’s the ‘how to’ part that concerns me a little.
It’s been a week now since I moved to Lantana. The space, freedom and openness of my life here is lovely. At the same time I feel the need to create a container that’s homey and comforting.
A new place invites a new routine or at least an adaptation of the old one. Jupiter was familiar to me before my extended stay so there was a context – a container – to my exploration there. Here everything is new. I drove south yesterday in search of a bicycle with upright handlebars. Covid has created a bike shortage, I discovered, perhaps because most of them are manufactured in China.
I could feel my anxiety rising on roads I hadn’t traveled before, looking for stores whose locations were unfamiliar. We are all exploring new territory I guess, internally or physically. New territory in relationships because we’re more physically together than we used to be or because we’re separated for too long and too far. It offers us opportunities for growth and opportunities to discover where our true nourishment lies.
Tomorrow I’m going kayaking! I’ll let you know how it goes. When was the last time you did something for the first time?
May 3, 2020