Tax Season Shenanigans: Part II (Lucidity Festival, Santa Barbara)
I’m in Vegas, in my hotel room, on a break from losing money downstairs. I brought my laptop, and books, so I could read up on partnership basis issues. I know…exciting stuff.
I figured I would update my blog. I have some fun pictures to share from Lucidity. My sweetie invited me to join him back in April.
I was having a really rotten time, at first. I couldn’t find my group. Parking was nonsense. No cell phone reception.
I feel bad for the kids in charge of organizing parking. I’m pretty sure they were high and not counting on me rolling in from L.A. to kill their buzz. I was fresh off working thirteen 15-hour workdays…I had just been sitting in my car for two and a half hours, and I hadn’t eaten anything substantial since breakfast. It was right before tax deadline, so I was a bit on edge. I cried in front of one of the parking guys. Do you think I give a shit? The answer is “no, I don’t.” I was ready to turn around.
Before hitting the road back to L.A., I thought I would at least do my meditation and yoga practice. After I finished I thought it would be a shame if I did not, at least, go and check out what was happening off in the distance. At the time, parking seemed so far from the festival. It was, if you had to carry your camping gear, which I did.
I am so glad I ventured out of my comfort zone, and walked over to the festival alone. I hopped on a rickety shuttle, and headed up the hill. I could have walked the road up to the festival area, but I couldn’t see in the dark, and I had no idea where I was going. After getting on the shuttle, I headed to the Love Nest. That’s where I was supposed to meet up with friends.
The ride up was so beautiful and peaceful. There were so many lights, glowing pyramids, stars on the ground, large colorful structures, a whale… I saw lots of fur and feathers. I meant to take a photo of some of the people wearing raccoon tails (apparently, it’s not just an Oregon thing).
It was fantastic, and I’m so thankful for all of the wonderful people who created this event.
Ultimately, I was able to connect with my friend and we walked around and checked out more of the grounds. It was one of the most surreal and wonderful experiences I’ve had. I get the allure. I was new this time, and I may have been a bit taxing to the stoner kids who were manning the parking lot.
I hope to be able to go back to this festival. In hindsight, parking wasn’t too bad. But, arriving at night, it was a bunch of bull shit. I gave those kids hell. I will confess. I’m sure I freaked them out.