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18 lagunabeachindy . com JULY 5 , 2024
DEAR SUSI Q :
Solo but not alone is the way to go
By Lynette BrAsFieLD
Put it this way : if I hadn ’ t chosen to travel solo , I would never have been in a position in Costa Rica to ask – with a straight face – this question : “ Why did the sloth cross the road ?”
Was it getting in touch with its inner chicken ? Enjoying the warmth of the hot tarmac beneath its furry belly ? Just wanting to get to the other side ?
The three-toed sloth in question had emerged from a perfectly good rainforest near Manuel Antonio National Park to hang out at a bus stop , where he showed off his Mona Lisa smile before setting forth to crawl unhurriedly across the tarmac , halting all traffic .
Until an impatient driver ( who clearly had experience with such matters ) picked him up by the scruff of the neck and carried him across the street .
Before I share the reason for the sloth ’ s intrepid road trip , let me explain : I love to travel solo because it offers so much flexibility , given that I have only myself to please and a whole world to discover . It ’ s wonderful not to have to worry about someone else ’ s needs and
wants , no matter how much you love them .
None of this : “ Well , what do you want to do ? I don ’ t know , what do you want to do ?”
Thing is , my husband Bill and I do travel together sometimes , but he doesn ’ t share my obsession with visiting far-flung places . Also , he ’ s not into hiking ; to me , that ’ s the best way to see the world . But he loves to golf and is more than happy with a trip a year stateside with his brother .
He didn ’ t particularly want to go to Costa Rica , and I did . So I went , and I saw sloths and so much more . I ’ ve traveled quite a bit solo since then . Fortunately , Bill is the most precious of partners , someone who takes pleasure in my happiness , trusts me completely , and encourages me to live my traveling dreams while I ’ m still capable of putting one foot in front of another , preferably in some of the wilder places in the world .
I know , not everyone has a Bill . I ’ m lucky .
But I strongly urge those of you who would love to travel but are holding back because your partner or friends don ’ t want to or can ’ t – or because you ’ re single – or because you think you ’ re too old – or because the prospect of going solo seems nerve-wracking – to research travel organizations like nonprofit Road Scholar , or Overseas Adventure Travel . You travel solo , but not alone , and you ’ re in safe hands .
In recent years , I ’ ve hiked Glacier National Park , Yosemite , Nova Scotia , Marble Canyon , and Death Valley , to name a few places . I ’ ve eaten an ant in the Amazon rainforest ( it tasted of lemon ), felt the roughness of black lava through my hiking boots in Hawaii , and heard the coughing of capybaras in
Ecuador .
In Borneo , I saw thousands of fireflies light up a tree , mirroring the Milky Way in the velvet night sky .
Travel while you can , I say . You learn so much , experience so much , and often make lifelong friends . It ’ s a way , if only for a while , to escape ruminating on the dire problems facing the world . I always seem to find people with the same sense of humor and similar values when I go solo . And there ’ s always something new to learn .
For example , the reason the sloth crossed the road in Costa Rica ? I should have guessed . His lady friend lives on the other side .
At the Susi Q , we occasionally have presentations by people who ’ ve visited interesting places , most recently Machu Pichu . There ’ s always something new at the Susi Q , so check out our website at thesusiq . org .
City Council
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of those projects turned out perfectly , they ’ re a heck of a lot better for our town than they would have been if we hadn ’ t come to the table and negotiated with CalTrans .”
Jones also listed affordable housing and small businesses , streamlining permit processes , artist housing and preserving open space as other key issues facing Laguna .
“ I have over 25 years of work experience in marine and land conservation ,” Jones , who chose the California poppy as her official campaign emblem . “ Our beaches and trails are among the most special things about Laguna . I ’ ll work to preserve the remaining acres of open space and implement our climate action plan to help build climate resiliency in town , on our beaches , and in the hills . I also think we can , and should , dedicate resources to our world-famous trail system and endangered habitats .”
In addition to participating at public candidate forums , Jones ’ s campaign will host Sunday morning “ Hikes with Hallie ,” during which she will lead small groups on local trails to identify the flora and discuss biodiversity , environmental stewardship , the importance of fire protection and city issues .
Jones also plans to offer house parties , which are informal neighborhood opportunities to get to know Jones in a relaxed setting . More information , including how to attend or host a house party , is available at Hallieforlaguna . com .
Laguna Beach ’ s general municipal election will be held on Tuesday , Nov . 5 , to elect two city council members , the city clerk and city treasurer . All positions will hold a full term of four years .
The nomination period for these offices begins on Monday , July 15 and closes on Friday , Aug . 9 , at 5 p . m . Council members George Weiss and Bob Whalen , as well as city treasurer Laura Parisi and city clerk Ann Marie McKay , are up for reelection .
Brown
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project provides certainty and will be completed with care and respect for the community .
Can we be patient , await more information without jumping to conclusions , and consider the positive , community-building certainties ?
Ketta Brown is a community volunteer who served three terms on the LBUSD School Board , four terms on the board of Friendship Shelter , and is the former chair of the City of Laguna Beach Housing and Human Services Committee .
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