As a youngun' I was a Boy Scout and went to scout camp at Camp Mirimichi at Huntington Lake. It was a wonderful place and many lasting memories were created in the times spent there. Sleeping in tents, Adirondack shelters or under the stars; it was respite from the heat of the valley in summer. The camp fires with stories and songs. The lake water that was cold, but really only cold enough for a good complaining whine. The shooting stars that filled the July and August skies were new and awe striking to this neophyte stargazer.
I was thinking recently lately of another rite that took place at Mirimichi each camp session. The swimming area was a U shaped area of connected floating docks anchored to shore. There was a rope separating the shallower area for the non swimmers to stand in and the deeper area for the swimmers. When a new group arrived, each camper had to prove their water prowess to the camp water safety people. This determined which area they would be allowed into or restricted within. The test was to swim across the area and back, about 50 yards. The second test was to "float" for 2 minutes. As a budding water polo player, I had no trouble swimming the 50 yards, but the floating brought on much gnashing of teeth. I am a sinker. You know some people can float like corks no matter what you do to them and some sink. Must be something in their physiology.
I would take a deep breath hold it in as long as possible, then quickly take another in the hopes that this bit of air would hold me up. I would arch my back, tilt my head back and think happy thoughts. But to no avail. My legs would slowly start sinking and once again I could feel myself being restricted to the shallow area. Didn't matter that I played water polo, had my lifesaving and water safety merit badges, successfully treaded water for 15 minutes fully clothed. Sinking into the water one time I thought about how I did everything correctly. Played a water sport, swam in the city pool every summer, learned to float on my stomach and tread water for long periods of time. Didn't matter. Might as well give me water wings or a floatee. I was restricted to the shallow still walkable depth water.
I've been thinking about the state of our state and nation. Seems like many people have been doing the correct things, but are still not making it. Go to work, do your job well, please the customer, provide a service, educate others, do what you need to do to earn a living. Still some lose their jobs and can't find another. Some may even still have their job, but a "market" turns another direction and now the table rules have changed. Their job has a new vision or format, and the new scheme makes life more complex.
One blog,
The Organic Sister, Maureen showed me has one answer to this conundrum. Simple living and searching. Obviously many people are simplifying through choice or compulsion. This family has made some well thought out decisions and I look forward to reading about their journey. Not everyone has this much gumption nor the desire to make this kind of a change. Yet.
I'm getting tired of treading water and still sinking, or being relegated to the shallow end of the beach.
