Urban camping attempt

So this weekend I learned a valuable lesson about the differences between camping and sleeping in your backyard.

On Saturday night, it was so durned hot in the uppy-upstairs of our house, that I feared I wouldn't get much sleep. In the midst of our tooth-brushing, I ventured to Glad, "I almost want to sleep outside." Never one to miss a chance to commune with nature, Glad didn't skip a beat. "Let's do it," she said, and we clomped down the stairs to the basement and gathered up an armload of sleeping bags and blankets. Minutes later we were settled in the grass under the giant dogwood tree, mumbling the last few strains of conversation before we drifted off to blissful slumber.

Almost.

See the thing is, we don't live in the wilderness, or on a farm in the country. We live on the corner of NE 29th and Sumner, and there are all kinds of interesting diversions to be distracted by at approximately 1:30 am...like regular bus service along 30th Street, very jolly and very awake neighbors making their way home along the sidewalk, street lights, sirens, and of course buzzing insects looking to take up residence in my nostrils, ears and hair.

Within about five minutes, I had become convinced that the aforementioned insects were in fact crawling all over me, gnawing at my flesh and laying a kazillion eggs in my sleeping bag. If you've ever experienced it, you know that it's very difficult (if not impossible) to shake the feeling of bug invasion, once it has begun.

Of course Nature Girl herself, Ms. McGladrey, slumbered peacefully through my miserable experience -- until finally at 2:36 am, I threw in the towel. I nudged my sweet compatriot and grudgingly admitted that the outdoor sleeping adventure just wasn't working for me...and together we bundled up our sleeping bags and stumbled back inside.

Somehow, even in the midst of my muggy uppy-upstairs room, I managed to fall asleep in my bug-free bed for several uninterrupted hours.

Next weekend, I'm going CAMPING. In a tent.

Sumner at the Starlight Parade

Sleepless on Sumner

Summer is a great time to live in the Alberta Arts neighborhood. Our favorite quick dinner spots are all a block from the house -- we frequent Bella Faccia for killer pizza by the slice, and La Sirenita and La Bonita for burritos, tacos and quesadillas. I guess you could say we're spoiled...

Plus there's always Last Thursdays on Alberta -- it's the earthy crunchy answer to First Thursdays in the Pearl. Just like its swankier older brother, Alberta's art night has plenty of art and handcrafts for sale, and people watching is like a sport (just hang out around the Alberta Clown House during mud wrestling if you don't believe me). But while the art in our 'hood may be a little more low-brow (our friend Tim calls it "slacker art,") I still prefer Last Thursdays, mainly because there are far fewer stiletto heels and purse dogs. In place of the well-coiffed snooty art patrons of the NW scene, Alberta provides a bevy of dreadlocks, pit bulls, found objects sculpture, and WEIRD performance art. (Think: a man on stilts wearing lots of white feathers and not much else, walking down the middle of the street.)

Seems like our friends think summer is a good time to be in NE Portland too...because we've had a parade of visitors this past week. First, Zeke's friends Kevin and Ross stayed for a few days, then Matt came for most of the week, then Karen and Ray from Church of the Apostles/Freemont Abbey in Seattle came for two nights. My favorite was the night I came home at 11 pm to find Justin, Glad, Sarah and Matt sitting on the front porch with candles and a bottle of wine. Justin was playing his guitar, Glad had her mandolin on her lap, and Matt was singing some Scottish folk song...

We have had some GOOD times this week hanging out with each other and our guests, but not nearly enough sleep. And I think it's time to wash sheets and towels.

Life at Sumner

Here's a description of Life at Sumner that I wrote a few weeks ago, when someone asked "What does community life look like for you?"

Disclaimers:
(1) We have only been doing this for eight weeks...we're not experts!
(2) There are lots of ways to go about "living in community."
(3) Our way of doing it will probably keep evolving...so this is kind of a snapshot of how we are doing things at a given point in time.

Living in community at the Sumner House means:

- Relationship -
We believe we are "called" to be in relationship with each other...meaning that by choosing to live together, we choose to make our relationships with each other a priority. We choose to love each other, daily. We choose to try to put others before ourselves and serve each other. We choose to spend time together.

- Time -
We set aside time to just hang out and get to know each other better, as a foursome. It's hard to coordinate all of our schedules but at least every week or two we try to have a "roommate date." We also set aside time to pray together whenever possible. We try to celebrate each others' triumphs and grieve each others' losses. We look forward to the late night kitchen chats and the Saturday morning breakfast moments.

- Finances -
We have set up a community paypal account and every month we each put a chunk of money in there. That community fund is what pays our rent, utilities, and shared household expenses. In addition, we use it to buy supplies for house parties, do special ministry stuff (birthday boxes, etc.) or meet other needs we see.

- Chores -
We keep talking about a more formal system, but so far it's kind of laissez faire. When we see something that needs to be done, we do it. Over time, we will probably institute something a little more structured, since inevitably the workload will get imbalanced.

- Food -
We kind of take turns grocery shopping, and share most of the food. Anything in the fridge is fair game, unless it is explicity labeled. If you use the last of something, try to buy more next time you're at the store. When you're cooking, try to make extra so others can eat when they get home. If you buy something for the whole house to share, pay for it out of the paypal account.

- Guests -
Our "default setting" is that we are open to all guests, all the time, unless we have stated otherwise. We are all welcome to have guests over for dinner/overnight/etc. without checking with roommates first -- though we do try to give each other a heads up for the sake of courtesy. We have an ethic that "our house is your house," so if you come stay with us you are welcome to open the fridge and help yourself. On the other hand, we'll let you help us cook or clean or set the table...we are not trying to "entertain" guests or wait on them hand and foot...just want them to feel like they can be at home in our home. While we all have the freedom to bring guests home, we also have the freedom to say "Wow, that's great that you brought friends home for dinner tonight, but I have a migraine...so I'm going to head upstairs and crash for the night."

Thoughts on community

To get us started, here's something I posted on the Evergreen Community Forum a couple of months ago...

Community.

I recently moved out of my insular apartment life and into a big old house with three other people. We are embarking on a community adventure -- figuring out what it looks like to share space, resources, struggles, joys.

We are eight weeks in, and I am finding myself counting the blessings of this shared life on a daily basis. I have inherited a home base...a family...a group of cheerleaders who want the best for me...partners in crime...partners in prayer...partners in yardwork.

"Community" can happen in so many different ways. Our way is not the only way, not necessarily even the BEST way...but for the four of us, it works. Byproducts: I am growing in ways that I never grew when I lived alone. I am evaluating things I haven't had to evaluate for a long time. I am realizing more of my own quirks and idiosyncrasies, and the way I impact others. I am challenged to deal with conflict in a positive and healthy way, and keep "short accounts" with my housemates.

Our home is becoming a gathering place where our friends, neighbors, family members, coworkers, and acquaintances feel welcomed and loved. We are already beginning to see that some of these people in our lives are intrigued by the community we have, and want to be a part of it in some way.

Project blogerized is complete

Hey gang! Our very own blog. woohoo.