Sedona Vuggy

Monday night I experienced Vuggy in Sedona.

The natural coming together of the occupants of four campsites in Oak Creek Canyon around a campfire with a box of wine, a few beers, and some mighty fine conversation.

With Luji entertaining herself beside us (our comrades were quite impressed) Jeff and I hung out for a couple of hours with our little international group:

Dick and Lillian, from the Bay Area and Jackson, Wyoming respectively, a 70-something couple who have been traveling, hiking, canoeing and exploring together for more than ten years. Dick has a fantastically unique, cute laugh (I’m sure he’d love that description), and Lillian is bold and friendly in expressing her various opinions.

Joe from Germany, who joined us with a smile and though perhaps didn’t understand a great deal of the multiple conversations taking place at once, shared his love for adventure by the very act of exploring the Southwestern U.S. on his own in truck and tent. Few words were required to share a connection.

And finally, a nature photographer from Boulder, Colorado, Tim, and his wife, Kristin. It was their fire, their hospitality, and their warm and inviting attitudes that brought us all together. Jeff and I connected with them in several ways, all of which impress them selves on me even deeper as I write. We are all about the same age; we have an adopted daughter and they are just embarking on their own adoption journey (!!!!); Tim made a career transition from teacher to pursue his passion and is now enjoying success around the country (incredibly inspiring for me personally considering my current state of transition and adventure!); and besides being a totally cool chick, Kristin works in the health field so we have plenty in common for ongoing conversation.

Adding to the camaraderie and creativity in the air, two or three inventive ideas were tossed out (somewhat jokingly but isn’t humor so often the springboard for ideas?), proving that just getting people together can spark imaginative, entrepreneurial thought.

The next morning Joe was up with the sun and on his way. We waved good-bye to Dick and Lillian as they drove off to meet their day, and we chatted for a good while once more with Tim and Kristin before heading home.

Our random stop at this little campground outside Sedona turned out to be an amazing experience because of the people we met (Jeff and Tim get credit for striking up the initial conversation, by the way). We now have two new friends (soon to be three!) with whom we shall stay in touch, visit in Boulder, welcome to our home, and hopefully share many adventures.

It seems a sparkling new gem has been formed in what began as the open space of a spring evening.

Space Affect

Flexibility has its benefits. Coming upon inspiring space at a NASCAR race was not one I expected, however.  I suppose inspiration really can strike anywhere!

Yes, last weekend we were in Phoenix – a last minute decision to visit my best friend since high school and take in some NASCAR (mention of the latter will bring a quirky little smile to my grad school friends, I’m sure).

We had a great weekend camping at the racetrack and just taking in the fun.  We understood it would be a party – a family oriented party but still one hell of a party – and chose our camp spot wisely.  And we were right.  It was a huge, sprawling, surprisingly respectful party. 

What struck me most throughout the entire weekend is the extent to which humans go to create the perfect feeling for their space (and how clean NASCAR fans keep their campsites!). 

Many, like us, keep it simple and accommodating.

Others take their experience to a whole new level through imaginative use of their relatively limited space. 

We walked through the campgrounds each night and saw something new and different each time.  Some folks have neon lights and big screen TVs on the sides of their RVs, and some bring in space heaters and set up bar areas much like the sidewalk patio at your local eating establishment.

Then we came upon THE group. Three large RVs parked in a U shape with a courtyard cordoned off to designate their area as their area for those of us just passing by. 

OK, so admittedly this isn’t really anything new: even those camped near us at the desert edge where there was far more space between campers  fashioned makeshift borders around their sites with rocks or strung little triangle flags from trailer to shrub (you know, like the ones we loved to hang from wall to wall in our bedrooms when we were kids).

THE group took it to another level entirely.  Start by picturing a complete outdoor bar ensemble complete with tiki grass skirts, patio heaters, bartenders, and rattan stools. Still nothing totally surprising. So what did THE group add to make their space worthy of an inspiring post?  Well, they did bring in a stage and a dance floor, complete with microphones, electric guitars and a karaoke machine…but it was the pool table that put the loudest exclamation point on their space. 

Yes, I just wrote “a pool table.”  A full-size, fully functional, constantly surrounded pool table.

We went to sleep every night listening to the just far-off enough sounds of the band, talking to the crowd like they were playing Madison Square Garden and jamming away.  From girls screaming karaoke songs at 2 AM (quite time started at 1 AM, by the way) to Springsteen to Nirvana, THE group had their party dialed. 

And it all started with a little imagination, some determination, and knowing the exact feeling they wanted to convey via their space. Mission accomplished.