Up until moving here I had not met or talked with either one of them. We met up the second night we were here and by the time we met up I was already a few ciders in, and it was at a club, so the conversations were being yelled and partly understood. Either way I thought they had a good vibe about them and I was comfortable with them.
They have been helpful, giving us Alaskan pointers but also letting us find our own way. They will be moving next year so that is a bummer :(
We met up with them last night for dinner at their place and the conversation was easy and we didn't leave until 11pm! Talking with them and learning more about the area and the people just supports what we've already begun to notice, people are nice and helpful here.
A book that I have given to some of my clients to read is "Tribe" and it's short easy but thought provoking read. We have gone away from a collective society to being very individualistic. I remember as a kid knowing our neighbors and my parents having friendships with them that have lasted. Now, hardly anyone knows their neighbors. In our apartment in Florida, we would say Hi to our neighbors but a majority of them didn't want to be bothered and would avoid eye contact. We had one neighbor that we keep in contact with and Joe was just talking with him last night. Making those connections in your immediate area, forming a tribe, keeps one safe and there are others who have your back, but it's important for accountability too! Our neighbor from Florida reached out because a package was delivered to our apartment! He is going to mail it to us here! Something so small not other keeps those feelings of being connected to others but reinforces the goodness of humans.
We've already met our across the hall neighbors. A young couple, he's active duty Air Force and she's trying to find a job in the area currently. If she can't find one she may go back to the east coast where the jobs are plentiful for her, she's a political scientist. We probably won't be the best of friends but we have a comfort level now to touch base or let them know if we are going to be out for an extended period of time.
We have become very divisive and to get back together requires conversations and being open to others!
In writing this and reflecting on last night it came to me that in harsher living situations people are more helpful and open to others. Alaska, although has everything a modern city gal could want, is still a harsh area to live. You're not really near anything, you can't just drive to another state. You go a handful of miles outside of the cities and you're in the bush with no plumbing and limited available resources. Even in the city, you have to be alert and aware of bears and other animals. Adam and Michelle talked about helping a guy with a broke down motorcycle. The guy still talks with them and invites them to his place and to motorcycle events. This is what life is about, what being human is about... helping others in need and building connections.
We are not meant to walk this earth alone.
Speaking of walking :P
There are tons of parks in the area and yesterday we picked one and went for a decent walk to get the blood flowing and get out of the apartment.
It is beautiful here! I'm adapting to the cold o.k. :P. I need to do some more winter clothing shopping and now I not as stressed because I finally got the firm offer for my job! I start orientation on 16 Oct! I got the phone call and email when we were going to pick up Joe's truck from being shipped from Florida! Everything is falling into place. His truck is DIRTY! It's going to take him days to get that truck clean to his standards ;).
Today we are going to check out Alyeska. It is their last day of their Oktoberfest festivities and it's should be beautiful drive today.
No comments:
Post a Comment