@patrickrhone Circus Juventus sounds like a worthy (amazing!) way to spend time. Though I’m impatient about that secret book project...
@patrickrhone Also, your note at the end about how we think about our homes/spaces within them. That’s been on my mind the last couple of weeks. We just moved across town last month, so have been making decisions about furniture and arrangements etc.
@patrickrhone We moved from a large home to a much smaller one. From a semi-furnished to a not-at-all furnished, so we have a weird half-mixture of furniture. It’s prompting creativity. And that’s prompted a lot of thinking about how/why we use our space the way we do.
@patrickrhone One of the things I value most about living to Puerto Rico is that there is NO way I can ever fit into the culture/society, for many reasons. Instead of feeling weird about that, I feel free. I can’t even hope to match societal expectations, so I no longer try. Removing expectations from the picture frees me to be myself, to prioritize what is important to me. Last week I realized this same concept could apply to how I live in the most personal of spaces, our home. How many expectations do I bring in? How many cultural norms do I follow just because? And what would change - how would I live in this space - without those things? Interesting to think about.
@Annie Circus Juventas is the largest performing youth circus school in the country. We're so blessed to have it right here in Saint Paul, MN. Make sure to take a look at some of videos. We have 12 year olds doing professional level tricks/acts.
@Annie First of all, congrats on the move. That waterfall shot you posted looked like you moved over to heaven itself.
What has prompted it for me is my Dad moving into a rental property we own after leaving a long term relationship. He's got nothing but books, records and tapes, old radios, audio gear (He's an audio/radio engeneer), and a few old library tables and bookcases. This blank slate has prodded him to think about how he wants to set up the house to better fit his life. Thus, the living room will become a library and the dining room an office and the sunroom a place for crafts and projects.
It made me think, "Why don't we all organize our homes around our lives? Why do we accept the defaults?"
So, yeah, looks like we each have some words in us about that. I look forward to yours.
@Annie I also like your further perspective in being in a whole culture that you will never fit in to and how that is driving your thinking on "fitting in" in general. Facinating stuff.
@Annie One more thing, visiting Puerto Rico came up in serious conversation with my wife just a couple of days ago. Have moved that much further up on our list. Do not be surprised if we meet sooner rather than later (which is even further up MY bucket list).
@rosemaryorchard I love it. It's incredibly difficult and you are, litterally, holding the lives of other people in your hands.
@patrickrhone Cool! My daughter has taken classes at Xelias Aerial Arts for several years now. When she has one of her showcases, I like watching the crew scramble around for the next performance. Looks like fun but I am afraid of heights... 😕
@tmj Well, if you ever want a ground level "behind the scenes" tour of Circus Juventas just let me know and I can arrange it. :-)
@patrickrhone oh yes! I would absolutely love that so much. Let me know when you start making solid plans, I would be so delighted to help make it happen!
@patrickrhone Yes! Arrange our homes/spaces according to our actual desires & functions & priorities, rather than predetermined templates. Kind of a good concept to apply to our lives, as well.