maximum enjoyment

[Tara]

<div><br></div><div>All the self defense threads got me thinking... what do we all do for to enjoy life? &nbsp;Small dwelling spaces can limit some hobbies (xbox, glass blowing, knife making, etc.) but conscious living can make life so much better! &nbsp;What do y'all do? &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I have a practice of writing all the beautiful things down every day (or sometimes every hour). &nbsp;I'm not sure what it says about my human condition that good living becomes even better when turned over in the mind a few times.</div><div><br></div><div>Other things that make life good for me: good food, good music, good books, good company (ixnay on mediocre company), good sex, using my muscles, watching animals, doing bad-ass stuff, making small beautiful things, drumming circles till dawn, solitude, practicing with my sling, climbing and jumping over things, and learning interesting things.</div>

 

[Imladris]

Sitting outside and just contemplating life
Doing anything that gives you a sense of accomplishment
Seconds on the good company
Knowing that you are resourceful enough to handle most anything life throws at you
Believing that there is a higher power that is looking out for me and helping me along my journey
All the beauty that surrounds us, expected and unexpected
And listening to Garrison Keillor and the News from Lake Wobegon!

 

[Butternut]

<font size="3"><font face="Georgia">I've found that one of the perks of living in such a small place is that you have to get out and interact with the world. I go to free museums, concerts in the park, and I read a lot. I can't go into my apartment and hide from the world so I'm forced to find a place within it. Kind of fun, really.</font></font><br>

 

[Guest]

Hi Tara,<br>I think you hit on it for me...conscious living. That means to me that if I am in the moment then everything that happens and I do, is of maximum enjoyment....it matters little what I do.&nbsp; I am in love with my life...<img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><br>Bri<br><br>

 

[Stillwater]

Great thread!<br><br>Doing something unexpectedly nice for a stranger and seeing their smile and surprise - that smile is like a sunrise. Making others laugh. Overcoming the wariness of a domestic animal and letting them feel safe around you. Being peaceful and still enough that a wild animal is satisfied to go about their business in your presence. Walking in the dark. The feeling of a strong breeze on my skin. I love feeling of the whole body rush of moving water against me... a shower is a poor substitute for a rushing river. <br><br>Motion.<br><br>Motion in my soul and body. Whether it a fast road bicycle on flats, a mountain bike jarring along down a hill, the rush of the landscape as I'm on my motorcycle on a back road, the pirouette of a responsive whitewater kayak eddying my way down a mountain stream, the deliberate plod of a canoe or even riding for hours in my vehicle. Motion makes me feel alive.<br><br>Stillness. <b>Deliberate</b> stillness can do much the same and awaken the sense.<br><br><i>Conscious living. </i>I like that phrase. I may use it when I explain to folks why I feel the need to go do these solo trips: hiking in the desert, sea kayaking out of sight of land, sub-freezing wintertime camping, whitewater kayaking and even riding my motorcycle. As most folks go about their daily life, their margin for survival is H-U-G-E. You're afforded the opportunity for many, many mistakes of no consequence - you live the life of inconsequential ease.<br><br>When I deliberately choose to pursue something where the margin of survival narrows, I feel more alive. When the next decision you make means the difference between survival or death, you are <i>forced to live in the now. </i>No thinking about yesterday... what you should have said or did. No thoughts about finances or long term future. Only about <b>now. This instant.</b> It then being necessary that each step, each decision, <i>is meaningful. </i>Wow?! <br><br>I've heard Southern Protestants use the term <i>walking in Grace. </i>Where, for a brief time, you feel that each decision and each action is just <i>right and you're walking in a glow-y place. </i>The scenarios above give me that feeling.<br><br>Adrenaline junkie? While many of my friends who follow the same pursuits could be classed that way, I'm motivated by something different.<br><br>

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

<P><B><FONT size=3>Thanks for this thread Tara. I like to express my happiness thru my art. I like to dance too, not a real good dancer but confident enough that I don't care what other people think.&nbsp; </FONT></B></P>

 

[sl1966]

Nice!!! Here's what I did for 10 years ....&nbsp;<a href="" target="_blank"></a><div><br></div>

 

[sl1966]

Well to be fair the video I posted is more of exhibition style lindy hop than social dancing. Dance floors tend to be a bit too crowded to pull of any aerials. Most dance it to mid tempo songs and looks much smoother ... like this ...&nbsp;<a href="" target="_blank"></a><div><br></div>

 

[sl1966]

Oh ... I'd love to swap steps with you at RTR if you're game!<div><br></div>

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Well to be fair the video I posted is more of exhibition style lindy hop than social dancing. Dance floors tend to be a bit too crowded to pull of any aerials. Most dance it to mid tempo songs and looks much smoother ... like this ...&nbsp;<A href="" target=_blank target=_blank></A><DIV><BR></DIV><P>

</P><P>This is just too fun!&nbsp; I can't wait for rtr!</P>

 

[VanTramp]

I can't dance to save my life, but I thought I might add that Heidi and I pretty much have fun with everything. At 43, I play more now than I ever did as a kid, she probably does too. Having a lame sense of humor and being easily amused helps greatly! If we were digging ditches, we would be either making mud pies or having a dirt war, one way or another, giggling and laughing would be the result!&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Kinda along the lines with what has been mentioned, we make a conscious choice to enjoy everything we do and it works!<br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>

 

[Seraphim]

]

I've found that one of the perks of living in such a small place is that you have to get out and interact with the world. I go to free museums, concerts in the park, and I read a lot. I can't go into my apartment and hide from the world so I'm forced to find a place within it. Kind of fun, really.

Well said. People have asked, and we've considered, a larger unit. But then, we'd be too comfortable inside, so why leave the house? In a van, we're generally looking for reasons to get out, so we do.

 

[WanderingRonin]

Life is simple for me... Good food with good company, great conversation... I think some people who dwell in vehicles do still play the xbox... as long as they have a good power supply handy.<div>Ditto for everything that was said above --especially animal watching. I opened the door to my van one night and found two deer ten feet away. Priceless. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></div>

 

[rm.w/aview]

This is an interesting and thought provoking thread that's revealing in a certain way.

 

[highdesertranger]

wow almost 8 years old. this is truly a blast from the past. mind you I am not saying there is anything wrong with digging up old threads, gets me thinking were some of these old friends are? highdesertranger

 

[StarliteRambler]

A thread worth reviving for sure.

 

[ByeBye]

Best thread I've found in a while on here, outside of 'how to'. I'm tired and just headed to bed for now but I'll be back!