There are still cool rocks in the ground. Touch grass, look for rocks, photograph fungi, watch a tree grow through the seasons, skip a rock, laugh at clouds with rude shapes. It’s all still there.
Last winter I had two weeks off from work and I spent every day riding my bike down to the beach, I’d take my phone for safety but I’d turn it off and pretend I didn’t have it. I’d pack a mandarin, a thermos with some tea, an empty grocery bag, and my one-hitter.
As a kid, I used to walk to the beach with my grandmother during the winter school holidays when we’d travel to her town for a vacation. We’d collect laver and kelp for dinner, and grandma would tell us we could bring home 1 shell, so as kids we’d hunt for the best shell. In addition to collecting firewood with grandpa, beach days with nan are some of my fondest family memories.
So last year, in my thirties, I’d ride my bike down, I’d put on my wellies and grab the bag from my pack, and I’d start combing the beach for plastic, rubbish and things that aren’t supposed to be there. Along the way I’d stop to admire the nice shells, or spy a sea star or little crab in a rock pool. All while pleasantly stoned.
Nothing will ever recreate the innocence and mindfulness of those childhood memories, but damn if my memories of last winter don’t come close.
I’d take my full bag of rubbish and walk my bike to the train station near the beach, about 800 metres away, munching on my fruit as I walked. I’d throw the rubbish in their bins, and because I was doing this at like 10am on a weekday I’d be able to jump on a near empty train with my bike, and I’d only have to wait maybe 5 minutes for the next train.
I’d walk my bike home and then go about the rest of my day in the absolute best mood!
I highly recommend doing wholesome activities in nature under the influence of drugs (if you are someone who already uses drugs that is - don’t start doing drugs just to make nature more fun… Unless you want to, I’m not your mother)
The benefit of living on an island. I’m very privileged to have this opportunity. Sadly access to nature is not guaranteed, especially in developed nations. Hopefully there’s a small park or green space near you that you can enjoy when you need to relax and feel the earth beneath your feet. If not, maybe time for some guerilla gardening?
I bet you live much closer than 1500km to a river or lake. Many of those bodies of water have public trails or sometimes even little sandy beaches. You won’t find shells but there’s plenty of other cool stuff to search for like the perfect skipping stone or walking stick, or a rock with a really cool color pattern, or mushrooms, etc. There’s something inexplicably restorative about spending time in nature near water.
This sounds amazing. I too have some really fond memories of just losing myaelf in the forest. Phone on silent and in backpack so I don’t get an impulse to take it out of my pocket, some weed and sausages and lighter to make a fire. Then I would just walk as long as I felt like until I found a good place to make a campfire and eat my sausages. It felt so peaceful
Hiking is good though. My life quality improved dramatically when I remembered I actually enjoyed being outdoors. I think something lots of people forget is kids spend a lot of time exercising and outdoors with friends. Ok friends are tricky when we all get busy and have to split off to find work and housing but exercise and being outside is something we generally manage.
It’s easy to be all “oooh childlike wonder how I long for your return” but I guarantee everyone will feel less ennui if you just go outside and move a bit.
The level of peace I feel while just wandering with no intention whatsoever makes me want to give everything up and find a place that will let me do that. All you actually need to live is food and water which is a lot easier to find than what most people realize. I need to return to hunter gatherer.
There are still cool rocks in the ground. Touch grass, look for rocks, photograph fungi, watch a tree grow through the seasons, skip a rock, laugh at clouds with rude shapes. It’s all still there.
And if you feel like you lost it, you can just take acid and giggle like a child in forest again
Last winter I had two weeks off from work and I spent every day riding my bike down to the beach, I’d take my phone for safety but I’d turn it off and pretend I didn’t have it. I’d pack a mandarin, a thermos with some tea, an empty grocery bag, and my one-hitter.
As a kid, I used to walk to the beach with my grandmother during the winter school holidays when we’d travel to her town for a vacation. We’d collect laver and kelp for dinner, and grandma would tell us we could bring home 1 shell, so as kids we’d hunt for the best shell. In addition to collecting firewood with grandpa, beach days with nan are some of my fondest family memories.
So last year, in my thirties, I’d ride my bike down, I’d put on my wellies and grab the bag from my pack, and I’d start combing the beach for plastic, rubbish and things that aren’t supposed to be there. Along the way I’d stop to admire the nice shells, or spy a sea star or little crab in a rock pool. All while pleasantly stoned.
Nothing will ever recreate the innocence and mindfulness of those childhood memories, but damn if my memories of last winter don’t come close.
I’d take my full bag of rubbish and walk my bike to the train station near the beach, about 800 metres away, munching on my fruit as I walked. I’d throw the rubbish in their bins, and because I was doing this at like 10am on a weekday I’d be able to jump on a near empty train with my bike, and I’d only have to wait maybe 5 minutes for the next train.
I’d walk my bike home and then go about the rest of my day in the absolute best mood!
I highly recommend doing wholesome activities in nature under the influence of drugs (if you are someone who already uses drugs that is - don’t start doing drugs just to make nature more fun… Unless you want to, I’m not your mother)
I’m about 1500km from any beach and there’s no public transportation or even bike lanes but that sounds cool
The benefit of living on an island. I’m very privileged to have this opportunity. Sadly access to nature is not guaranteed, especially in developed nations. Hopefully there’s a small park or green space near you that you can enjoy when you need to relax and feel the earth beneath your feet. If not, maybe time for some guerilla gardening?
I bet you live much closer than 1500km to a river or lake. Many of those bodies of water have public trails or sometimes even little sandy beaches. You won’t find shells but there’s plenty of other cool stuff to search for like the perfect skipping stone or walking stick, or a rock with a really cool color pattern, or mushrooms, etc. There’s something inexplicably restorative about spending time in nature near water.
This sounds amazing. I too have some really fond memories of just losing myaelf in the forest. Phone on silent and in backpack so I don’t get an impulse to take it out of my pocket, some weed and sausages and lighter to make a fire. Then I would just walk as long as I felt like until I found a good place to make a campfire and eat my sausages. It felt so peaceful
Amen brotha. Been getting back into hiking and camping.
The only problem is wishing I had gotten back into it sooner.
not a bro bro.
Hiking is good though. My life quality improved dramatically when I remembered I actually enjoyed being outdoors. I think something lots of people forget is kids spend a lot of time exercising and outdoors with friends. Ok friends are tricky when we all get busy and have to split off to find work and housing but exercise and being outside is something we generally manage.
It’s easy to be all “oooh childlike wonder how I long for your return” but I guarantee everyone will feel less ennui if you just go outside and move a bit.
The level of peace I feel while just wandering with no intention whatsoever makes me want to give everything up and find a place that will let me do that. All you actually need to live is food and water which is a lot easier to find than what most people realize. I need to return to hunter gatherer.