Based on our conversation today, here is a list of all the places that we will be this summer and in the future.  A really cool map with all of these locations is forthcoming!

Justin- Palo Alto, CA for the next year

Mikey- SLC for summer, looking to road trip to many different states and cities, Seattle starting in August

Hannah- Tacoma until June, then Eugene for a couple of weeks, then back to Tacoma

Gordon- Fruit Business in Tacoma for the summer

Mark- Playing baseball in Tacoma for the summer, and traveling around for baseball

Bryce- Everett, WA working, Alaska Fishing Trip in August

Adam- Tacoma for summer, back to San Francisco in the Fall

Molly- Tacoma until June, then Minnesota (St. Paul) for a while then Montana for the fall

Jeni- Tanzania for the summer, then South Africa for the Fall then UPS for last spring semester

Lindsey- Seattle or Orcas Island for the summer, then Argentina and South America from October until April

Ashley- Road Trip back to Chicago, then Chicago while she starts her business

Doug- Tacoma for Summer then Seattle with Mikey or Hawaii with Jesse (Tough Decision to Make) Win-Win Situation

Tim- Europe traveling then Palo Alto, CA in August

T-Beck- Traveling back home to Chico, CA

B-Walk- Trying to get Microsoft Job in Seattle, if not then he will live in Salem, OR

Leechew- Europe in June, then back to Tacoma for the summer, then CA or Taiwan

Nisha- San Francisco for summer then no set plans

Sophie- Europe for summer, then San Francisco

Elle- Cambodia, Vietnam and Japan unitl mid June, then back to Tacoma and then UPS for fall semester

Megan- Colorado for 1 week then back to Tacoma for summer and 2 more years of college

Bijou- Tacoma for summer, then San Francisco for 1 more year of college

Kitchel- Tacoma for summer then no set plans

Cam- Lakewood and Tacoma for summer, then back to campus for 1 more year of college

Graehme- LA for a few weeks then to Nantucket for a few weeks, then either stay back east or move back to LA

Michelle- Portland for summer to build tiny house, then options are endless (If you have any resources in Portland, hook her up)

Shawna- Boise for summer, then staying in Boise to start a management job for Target in July (She will be in Salt Lake for a few weeks of the summer and is going to contact Mikey to experience the wonderful bar scene in Utah)

Eric- Around Tacoma for the summer, then maybe Orcas Island, or LA in September for a month

Don’t ride donkeys downhill…seriously…it’s terrifying.

Value your family and keep them close, no matter how far apart you are in distance.

Be yourself.

Live life in the present.

Surround yourself with people who you care about and who truly care about you. Be with people who make you happy and want to make you a better person. When you find these people in your life you will know, don’t lose them. To have the feedback about someone where you think “I couldn’t imagine my life without them” is a great thing.

The importance of understanding other cultures and religions around the world. To be able to gain new and different perspectives and help open people’s eyes to the world around us. I wish more people had the opportunity to travel and live and experience a completely different country with their values, traditions, way of life.

Make time for yourself.

Be intimate with as many people as possible: physical, emotional, whatever.

Don’t waste your time with Mac OS X – the architecture will be hard pressed to adapt to the new software environment originating from open-source software and cloud computing.

Do not make assumptions about people that you do not know very well.

Don’t be lazy; through personal experience the things in the world that I regret are those things I didn’t do. From playing a sport to trying foods, just go for it. Don’t wait around for something to happen, make it happen.

If you have a compliment for someone, tell them. It usually make them smile and helps a friendship grow.

A positive attitude and a smile can turn your day around and make someone else’s tremendously better.

Take the time to build relationships with people. They are the ones that will be there when times get tough. Forget the things that stress you out for another day and take the time to be with your friends.

Make yourself happy before you try to make others happy.

Question everything. Ask stupid questions. Be curious. You will find many intriguing things/ideas/concepts you would’ve never imagined. Don’t be ok with the ebb and flow of a “normal” life. What does that even mean? Get deep. Get even deeper.

Always come prepared to things that are important to you.

Take the time to help someone other than yourself at least one time everyday. This will bring happiness that you could never imagine.

Be honest with yourself and those around you.

Stop regretting. It doesn’t help you move on.

Stop being lazy. Get up off your ass and do something.

Do what you want to do, not what others want.

A side note:  One of the unique things about backpacking is the ability to leave the rest of the world behind.  So please consider this as an opportunity to leave your cell phones behind (or turn them off), be in a great place with your friends with out camera flashes constantly documenting for facebook, and to listen to the music provided by mother nature .

Enjoy the wind through the trees, the crackling of the fire, story telling, and let go of your worries for a night.

Clothes:

• Wool socks
• Shirts
• Pants
• Shorts for hiking (if warm)
• Underwear (optional)
• Fleece pants / Fleece sweater
• Beanie
• Coat
• Raincoat (weather dependent)
• Shoes: Boots or Tennis Shoes

Gear:

• Flashlight (headlamp preferred)
• Sleeping bag (rated to at least 20deg)
• Sleeping pad (thermarest or something else)

Misc:

• Toiletries
• Sunglasses
• Sunblock
• Deodorant
• Water bottle (probably should bring at least 64oz / person)
• Glasses / contacts
• Meds
• Pillow
• Fork + Spoon or SPORK (spork because they are badass)
• (camping chair)

Group:

• Tarps
• Tents
• Stove
• Gas
• Med kit (epipen)
• Rope
• Cooking supplies
• Food (smores?)

Group Misc:

• Frisbee
• Hacky sack
• Slackline
• Baseball
• whatever else

Also, if anyone has any serious medial conditions from asthma to allergies, wether it be to bees or to tomatoes, please please make sure that a “leader” knows and that if you need an EpiPen or something of that sort that it is around for you.

This is a short, interesting video about a 20 year old who had to drop out of school in Africa due to his family not being able to pay school fees.  This guy build a working windmill based off of photos in a book and he is pursuing his passion, his dreams in a life where most people would have thought all opportunity had been lost.  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOecFFkglkM

http://www.michelleakershorserescue.com/

So just like the goodies page that Michelle created, I have created a “favorites” page.  This is a place where everyone can share their favorite places/activities in Tacoma or favorite books, movies, music… whatever!  The best way to share is to just leave it in a comment.  Check it out!

Bryce: (2) backpacks (cheap but will work)

(2) two person tent

(1) sleeping bag (mikey)

(1) sleeping bag

(1) size large water proof rain shell

(2) pairs of warm socks

(1) fleece jacket

More coming….

Feel free to claim any of it.

Attendees: Michelle, Hannah, Trevor, Mikey, Bryce, Adam, Molly, Jeni, Ashley, Leechew,  Sophie, Elle, Gordon