In short my new position as Groundskeeper means I do whatever it takes to keep the town looking good. My coworkers and I empty public trash and recycling cans, sweep the plazas, mow (most areas twice a week), pull weeds, plant and water flowers, and complete other random tasks. For instance, last Thursday I put on some waders and scooped algea out of a pond with a pitchfork all afternoon.
I really enjoy being outdoors, even with this crazy mountain weather. It's usually 40 degrees in the morning but quickly warms up to the 70s as the sun gets higher. But, each little rainstorm drops the temps back down to the 40s and comes with the possibility of hail and/or snow...in June! Usually I carry a fleece and a rain jacket in my backpack. Sometimes it's still not enough.
It's certainly not a glamorous job, but I'm really enjoying it. Honestly, I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing at this point in my life. It's not exhausting but still involves real work. I work 7-5:30 four days a week and get paid enough to afford good food (if I shop out of town), bike parts, and can still save a little. That's partly due to having four people living in a two bedroom house, but it's certainly big enough with a loft and a "Yoga" room (my room). I also like driving a work truck. Just feels right. Hydraulic lift gates are pretty awesome too. I think being self employed would be cool in the future, and getting paid to write and/or edit also has my interest. But for now, I'm pretty happy were I am.
6.29.2014
6.16.2014
First Impressions of Telluride
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It's like Disney World for adults. It's a mecca for outdoor recreation whether it's hiking, climbing, mountaineering, kayaking, rafting, biking, fly fishing, off-roading, and of course skiing and snowboarding in the winter.
Some random facts:
- USPS does not come to my house; we have a PO Box in town.
- I'll most likely need 4x4-low and snow chains to get around my neighborhood in winter. Even then, I might get snowed in some days. But, it's the kind of place that you don't have to worry about locking your front door.
- It's much drier here than the Front Range, and I can now say that I prefer Aveeno over Vaseline lotion. It just feels more natural and less oily.
- Everything is uber expensive. Gas is $4.18, a 12 pack of PBR is $15, and groceries are through the roof. Sunscreen is $11 a bottle! I think I'll just wear long sleeves. Once I get paid, I plan to make a trip to the Wal-Mart in Montrose (an hour away) to stock up for a month.
- I have discovered the French Press and it is amazing, except for the last sip.
- Our fridge has a beer dispenser.
- My roommate has a Nintendo and a Super Nintendo.
- There are pretty much three types of people here. There are the tourists who are fairly well off and provide the foundation of the economy. Then there are the really rich people who own homes here and either don't have to work, work remotely, or just use this as a second home. And then there are people like me. Most in their twenties and here to play for a season or two while working backstage/operational jobs that keep this place rolling.
- There are only two radio stations. Both suck.
- Going from 5000ft to 9000ft is more difficult than going from sea level to 5000ft. There's not a whole lot of air up here, and I have a theory that smells are more intense because of it.
- It's good to have an employer that understands their employees. 4-10s and 3 days off in a row is sweet. I hardly know what to do with myself.
- It's also good to work for a small town with a lot of money. We're not lacking for equipment.
6.08.2014
Stuff
A simple truth: The more stuff you have, the more difficult it is to travel.
Everything I own fits in my vehicle, but it still feels like too much. If I had a tiny car that might be saying something, but with a Tacoma with a 6ft bed, a hitch bike rack and a roof rack, it almost feels like cheating. My goal for the next few years is simply to travel, so I've made it my short term goal to condense my possessions down so that I can camp comfortably in the back of my truck.
It's difficult getting rid of some things like books, kitchen supplies, spare bike parts, but the truth is that a lot of my stuff has been packed up in boxes since last August when I left Oxford. I didn't need it at home and didn't plan on being there long. I didn't have a place for that stuff in my house in Fort Collins except for the boxes it was in, nor have I needed those things. I think I'll be ok without them. The easiest way to travel is to own only what you can carry on your back - as seen in Into the Wild. However, I'm not willing to go quite that far. Backpacking has taught me exactly how much I need though.
It's these thoughts that are pushing me to not get an apartment in Telluride. More money plus no lease agreement and fewer obligations equals easier travel. Of course if I stay for the winter, it'll be a different story, but the summer should be nice for camping. In any case this is all good training for living on a sailboat later down the road.
Everything I own fits in my vehicle, but it still feels like too much. If I had a tiny car that might be saying something, but with a Tacoma with a 6ft bed, a hitch bike rack and a roof rack, it almost feels like cheating. My goal for the next few years is simply to travel, so I've made it my short term goal to condense my possessions down so that I can camp comfortably in the back of my truck.
It's difficult getting rid of some things like books, kitchen supplies, spare bike parts, but the truth is that a lot of my stuff has been packed up in boxes since last August when I left Oxford. I didn't need it at home and didn't plan on being there long. I didn't have a place for that stuff in my house in Fort Collins except for the boxes it was in, nor have I needed those things. I think I'll be ok without them. The easiest way to travel is to own only what you can carry on your back - as seen in Into the Wild. However, I'm not willing to go quite that far. Backpacking has taught me exactly how much I need though.
It's these thoughts that are pushing me to not get an apartment in Telluride. More money plus no lease agreement and fewer obligations equals easier travel. Of course if I stay for the winter, it'll be a different story, but the summer should be nice for camping. In any case this is all good training for living on a sailboat later down the road.
6.06.2014
Softopper
I've been considering buying a new Softopper for a while now. They provide all the convenience of a hard shell without the drawbacks. Softoppers are lightweight, collapsible if you need the full use of the bed, and all the sides role up for great ventilation while camping. Also, they're made locally in Boulder. So, when I found a used one on Craigslist, it was a no-brainer.
At first I was worried about the cost, even though the asking price was only $400. But the way I see it, if I find a subleaser for my room and an affordable apartment, I'll still have enough money for rent. If it doesn't work out, I have a place to sleep and a way to keep my stuff dry during the move. That's if I can shove my mattress in there. It's an 8 inch foam queen, and I'm thinking it'll be a little flexible. A double would've fit perfectly though.
I have to admit that the idea of camping out for the summer (and not paying rent) is enticing. If I didn't have Lucy to think about, I'd plan on it for the whole summer. Although without Lucy, an apartment would be much easier to come by, but I'll save my rant about landlord discrimination for another day. And yes, she is more important to me than a solid roof. I think she'd be fine in the back with the sides of the Softopper rolled up as long as she didn't bark at people passing by. The highs in Mountain Village have only been in the upper 60s lately. The other concern is showering. I'm hoping that the employee fitness center has one. I'm not sure that a solar shower bag is a sustainable way of bathing, but it's the only alternative I can think of.
Following a dream isn't always easy. I could've easily dismissed it with the lack-of-funds excuse, but I'm pretty prepared to go off the grid if need be - wouldn't be the first time. It also helps that my paychecks won't skip a beat. Moving can get expensive, but it helps that everything fits in my truck. I just need to remember to not accumulate stuff. As a cyclist that's difficult to do.
At first I was worried about the cost, even though the asking price was only $400. But the way I see it, if I find a subleaser for my room and an affordable apartment, I'll still have enough money for rent. If it doesn't work out, I have a place to sleep and a way to keep my stuff dry during the move. That's if I can shove my mattress in there. It's an 8 inch foam queen, and I'm thinking it'll be a little flexible. A double would've fit perfectly though.
I have to admit that the idea of camping out for the summer (and not paying rent) is enticing. If I didn't have Lucy to think about, I'd plan on it for the whole summer. Although without Lucy, an apartment would be much easier to come by, but I'll save my rant about landlord discrimination for another day. And yes, she is more important to me than a solid roof. I think she'd be fine in the back with the sides of the Softopper rolled up as long as she didn't bark at people passing by. The highs in Mountain Village have only been in the upper 60s lately. The other concern is showering. I'm hoping that the employee fitness center has one. I'm not sure that a solar shower bag is a sustainable way of bathing, but it's the only alternative I can think of.
Following a dream isn't always easy. I could've easily dismissed it with the lack-of-funds excuse, but I'm pretty prepared to go off the grid if need be - wouldn't be the first time. It also helps that my paychecks won't skip a beat. Moving can get expensive, but it helps that everything fits in my truck. I just need to remember to not accumulate stuff. As a cyclist that's difficult to do.
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