Sup, buttercup? Long time no chat. As we enter the last month of summer I figured it was time to check in. At the end of last year I really started reflecting on community where I live, and where I fit in it. I have a lot of friends in a lot of places, and my first several years here in Austin I really struggled to balance actually being present in my surroundings and balancing my long distance relationships. I have a lot of visitors, and I also can find myself on a lot of trips. I am happy to have those connections in my life, and I also enjoy traveling obviously. But when I made the choice to move here, I made the choice with the intention of laying down roots in an area and not bouncing around and out after a couple years like I normally do. I found myself on my way to five years in my home and city, the longest I’ve ever stayed somewhere in my adulthood, and still feeling a bit like a visitor. 

I absolutely adore Austin, and that has been consistent since I got here. Anytime I have checked in with myself about where I live vs. where I could go that has not changed. But as a retired little rolling stone I think there is often something missed when adjusting to new areas and new phases of life in adulthood. It is easy for us to chalk it up to the location being the problem, and then you find yourself in a constant dopamine hit chase for newness. New job, new city, new things, new trip, new relationship, you get the gist. Maybe you do find yourself in the midst of a move, or contemplating one. Sometimes that is the right answer. I’m not here to shit on new, in fact I strongly encourage new. It is important for us to allow ourselves to experience new and different things, and I find it far more beneficial to have an open mind in life. Rather, I want to adjust the direction in which we seek newness. Sometimes the location, job, relationship,etc. is not the problem. Sometimes you are. 

The truth is, no matter where you live or how long you have lived there, genuinely becoming part of a community takes effort. It can find you, but even when it does you have to make a choice to show up and be part of it. I am lucky enough to live in an area that has so many things to do all the time. No matter your interest there is guaranteed to be something, and likely something free or free-ish, for you to enjoy. To explore. To meet people. To find community. But you have to make the effort to find it and show up. And I suspect a lot of places y’all live have the same, especially in the summer. 

I also intentionally factored in when deciding to move here that I love summer, I love swimming, and I love live music. Wow, are we stacked with that here in Austin. So I made a commitment to myself this summer to focus more on integrating myself into my community, finding activities I wanted to try and do, and investing in relationships here in Austin. I have been thriving this summer. I have been on so many different adventures and thoroughly enjoyed them all. I have done and discovered so many new things, I have leaned heavily into rediscovering childhood interests and just fun. My motivation this summer is what sounds fun. 

It’s a tad ironic, being that summer is usually a time we reserve to go elsewhere. While I do think that there is always a benefit for travel and exploration, I also am becoming more and more passionate about creating a life you enjoy and don’t feel the need to escape. The world can be overwhelming, particularly the current state, and I wholeheartedly believe one of the most important things we can invest in right now as an antidote is community. It is creating an environment you enjoy for yourself and others, it’s creating safety and assistance for those around you when they are in need, it’s pouring back into the things and people who have been generous enough to do the same for you. It’s starting with where we can actually make an impact. But that does not always have to be so stressful, so daunting, or under a negative context. It can start with fun. 

So that is what I am advocating for y’all to lean into this month. Even if just for the final month of summer, find fun. Go on adventures. Try new things in your area you are interested in or have been too scared to do. Rediscover old things you used to enjoy and have retired in adulthood. Find community, and make your city your vacation. Find inspiration, create, and just seek joy. We do not always need to put the pressure on ourselves to take everything so seriously that we rob ourselves of being present and enjoying our lives. Create the community you would want to be part of, you absolutely have the impact to do so. 

Adventure is out there. Happy trails. 

– Kels