Dig this vibe

Port Townsend is home to a many hippies, of all ages. On the east coast, people may call me a hippy but not here. My friend/coworker Flor who started as an intern on the same day as me had her last day yesterday. Flor hangs out with authentic hippies and took me to their house. It was in the woods, deep in the woods, we may as well have been off roading. They live in a house that has a bus attached to the side of it which is like a "room." There is no running water or electricity. I used a privy to go to the bathroom. We had a potluck to commemorate Flor's departure. For the first time since I moved here, I felt out of place, i actually felt preppy.

i gravitated to the food preparation to keep busy but the hostess was bent on doing it all himself. okay, so that wasn't going to work. so i clung to flor like i was in high school.

my feet were like lead when the drums and wind instruments started. where did my confidence go? the wallflower in the mint raincoat and fancy hiking boots with socks that matched.

I recycle, i like used stuff, i like fresh, local, organic, i like nature, i like dancing, i like feeling free, but it's the first time i felt so out of place since moving here, i stood out like a sore thumb. this is a whole new level of freeness and openness that i just don't relate to. Despite all this though, I was happy to be with Flor on her last evening and to meet some of her friends. Everyone was friendly and kind...but i wasn't "feeling the vibe." Try as I might to fit in, I learned I'm not a hippy but that's okay because i like who i am anyway.

And yes, there was pyrotechnics, the guy spinning these balls of fire was actually in the circus.