Man on the Run

Back from camp! Over at this post I more or less detailed what we did while we were away, device-less for a weekend. But some of the other stuff that I didn't get to talk about was what it felt like to be there. When I returned, I told George that it was "magical," and it was. The purported goal of the camp was to feel like a kid again, and while that was accomplished from an events level, I think it was also supposed to reflect on how we interacted with people.

By not talking about work, or revealing our real names, and generally just blocking away the outside world, it felt like we were in a dream time experience. There were moments when I was walking around in the woods, with my lone flashlight guiding the way, when I thought "Man, this is fantastic, this is what I want every day to be like!" For me, adult camp was less of a getaway, as my general day to day is pretty structure-less.

While I'm generally not a rah rah spirit type of person, I made myself do it during most of camp. I decided that I had to buy in when I could, and even though there were group events when I felt myself recoiling from the group, I tried to push myself into the fray and cheer and stuff. Very unlike me. From my talks with other fellow campers, this was a challenge for a lot of other people too. To suddenly have their introvert or insecurities ("Do they like me?") challenged and brought to the forefront.

While many people at camp took the opportunity to have meaningful conversations -- which was encouraged due to the ethos and circumstances -- I found myself going the other way, just shallow. In real life I want to get to know people but at camp I found myself mainly interested in light conversations that didn't consist of more than a few generalities. I figured I wouldn't see most of these people again, and that felt freeing.

There was a silent dinner, during which you didn't say anything, or even look at the people around you. It was an experience. It's eerie to have a few hundred people seated and eating, without any sounds save chewing and clickety clacking of silverware -- plus a violin in the background. One thing the counselors said was that was as soon as you make eye contact with someone, you are already formulating what to say or how to react.

Disconnect to reconnect, that was kind of the theme of the camp. I'm not sure if I felt reconnected afterwards, but reflecting upon the experience after a week has made me feel like summer camp will be a definite highlight of the year.

• Into the Woods and Away from Technology
• How I Survived Without Tech at Digital Detox Camp
• Inward Bound: Summer Camp for Adults (and Joyful Hippies, Curmudgeon-y Tech Addicts and Wonderful Weirdos)
• A Trip to Camp to Break a Tech Addiction

DLMOU is back after like an eight month sojourn through various countries, including four in India. I was talking to him about how hard it must be to talk to people about his experiences. I mean, I felt like I couldn't really convey how camp was, and that was just a few days. Aside from the day to day of what happened, how do you tell people about what a journey you'd been on? It's impossible I feel, or at least beyond the scope of my abilities. Short of something dramatic changing, the minute observations and shifts in mood are hard to capture and describe.

"You just had to be there." I guess.

Also, finding out fellow camper's real names and occupations afterwards has been interesting. Aside from the sheer parlour game aspect of it, some of the people seemed downright amazing. Artists, writers, tech people, entrepreneurs. A few of the people I briefly exchanged work info with totally undersold what they do. After a few Google searches, I was just cowed and inspired. People doing cool shit, everywhere!

• Young Guns: Sister Act (2010)
• Industry Insiders: Slice of Life (2010)
• Andrew and Miki
• Forest Stearns: Draw Everywhere