Three Years Ago the World Shutdown - Finding Myself Displaced in a Very Different World - But I Got to Play with Fire Twice and More!
Found my way to different people and experiences that led to studying, meeting people in different ways, and being handed a fire sword at a crypto event!
Rewind three years heading East towards the sun rising on a bus ride with a plan that didn't account for the world being shut down. Had been hearing more ringing and things leading to a day where I just packed one bag and headed out on my way. But I didn't take big bitcoins with me that day. Seems I may have needed a break from blockchain, cryto, and things and explore some others parts of life and this planet (that was being closed). The world may have been closed, or "clothed" in a different view. Some of the ideas, restrictions, mandates, and what not were not adding up in some ways. Ended up meeting and spending time with some people from a different walk of life that I normally experience. Some part of this trek seemed to have started and ended this way with many magical moments from the miracle of the moment of the thing we have come to know as life always seems to be. Just a matter of the perspective.
Everything was closed. Like everything. Who would have thought so many places and businesses would be closed. Gatherings outside were even shut down. Seems these little things, like really small things be create really big, like really big scares. The world appears to have been shut down because of some tiny virus. They can be scary though. We as human beings had a similar experience a few years ago. Or rather closer to hundreds of years ago when we encountered the Plague also known as Black Death. We cleaned surfaced and wore masks then too. A chuck of our world human population didn't survive and we, or someone, didn't want that to happen again if they could help it.
Did my best to steer clear of much of the craziness, mandates, and restrictions. Learned that if you were outside and not near too many people you wouldn't have to wear a mask or get shot. Not shot, but just a shot with a needle. However the story of the "shot" has mixed thoughts on health or survival. So we found a park where we could hang out be free from the closed world. However most parks were closed too. Thought about going hiking and camping in the wilderness. But apparently nature was closed too. So no major hiking. Went on smaller walks and hikes to pass the time and get somewhere. The airlines and buses for example were closed and restricted at times too. When I did finally manage to go to my next little adventure I was about to board the airplane and told I needed a mask but didn't have one.
The mask was $3, they didn't take crypto, and it was time to board the airplane
Fortunately some nice woman gave me a mask and I was able to board the airplane on time. Back to the park. This is where I met Hank. He wanted to be included when I wrote some story of this. He and his friend asked my name, and chose not to confuse people with "virtualgrowth" which gets mixed reactions sometimes and told them it was "No Name". Met someone at a conference that coined me as that in a way like a horse with no name. So these were my new friends by the picnic table for a while.
It's interesting to encounter travelers on vacation during this time too. Were generally more laid back with more time to hang out and chat and what not. Little different than going somewhere to go out to eat, see shows, movies, and entertainment. People became the entertainment maybe much like the time before we have all these electronic devices like phones, televisions, computers, and so on. Have always tried to encounter and spend time with people in smaller communities. Having lived in a city and a little town at different times in my life has led to a mixture of experiences.
Didn't spend much time online as I didn't have a place to go for wifi for a while. Then eventually discovering somewhere. The libraries were closed. However some had wifi still on and available outside in the parking lot as some had posted and offered. Was a matter of where to plug in and charge the electronic devices on the longer outdoor adventures. Eventually tipped off on a library they had an outside outlet. So got online a little bit more. Chatting with someone one day led to asking about going to help with an outdoor event. This would lead to one of the next adventures.
Finding myself at an airport ready to board and told I need a mask which is available for $3 that I didn't have with me at that very time. I almost thought I may not make my flight because I didn't have or know that I needed one to fly. This world was indeed very different at this moment. Luckily I was able to get on the airplane to find myself in a different state after getting to land and embark on the next adventure.
No longer at a park, but on a farm. Haven't been on a farm in a while. Was nice for a change. Again away from much of the closed world. Although things were opening up more. Good to spend more time outdoors the past few years. So that was a plus. The outdoors are always open as long as someone has not put up a closed sign. Helped with numerous events. Reminding me of my Boy Scout days of events and the great outdoors.
Stayed with some different people and places along the way too at times. Getting to know some people. One day someone asked me if I'd like to try a lightsaber. Some of these people were known as some type of "spinners". To which I replied, "There is no try, only do." Then handed to me to practice with. Fun swinging around as it lit up and made a whooshing sound when whipped around very quickly.
It was enjoyable to go out in nature to listen to wilderness, quietness, and sometimes animals. Looking up at the starry sky at night. Being more visible being further from cities. Just had to be careful of some wild animals. Mostly not a problem, but at night there could be some creatures further out in the dark away from the homes and the homestead.
Many little adventures to help out with laying pipes in the ground, electrical wires, setting up chairs and tables, feeding the chickens, and what not. Not together or in that order either. Stayed in a spot one time and woke up surrounded by cattle! Was inside something so not like they may step on me. Although there was a rooster that would chase me after charging at me. Rolling a big bale of hay out in the field to feed the cattle in the morning was interesting and different!
One event was during a Winter Solstice and I got tasked with building the fire. After spending time stacking a bunch of wood together for the fire. The fire was lit and burned all through the night until sunrise without more wood being added! May have been one of the best fires I had built in that respect.
Another event was out in the middle of nowhere and someone had remembered me from a blockchain and crypto event in San Francisco that I had attended some time before. It was good to see people again since the closing. Some people I knew had events because they wanted to see people getting together again. It was great to be a part of helping to make that happen.
The people that I met that handed me a light saber I later got to stay and travel with for a little while. One girl took up introducing me as their "wizard"! Her friend was the one that offered me a fire sword to try out at an event I was helping out with. They came to perform. Little did I know I would be going in front of hundreds of people and many of they that I knew, or rather knew me. So I took the fire sword and swung it around to get a feel for it. Then after a little while he lit it on fire for me! Making sure to hold on tight and keep moving and swinging around I swung the fire sword up, down, and around, and most importantly away from me so I didn't burn myself and become one with the fire!
It was good to have more intense and interesting fun times again! Thank you to so many people, places, opportunities, and more. Looking forward to more in the future. Staying and traveling with fire spinners was quite different! They always had places to go to practice and do shows. Then staying up late because well it is better to spin fire at night when the fire is bright! Maybe I'll get to meet up with some of them again sooner than later.
Thank you for reading and visiting my virtual space on the Hive blockchain,
