As you know if you have been following along, I was in San Antonio for a Mensa Foundation board meeting and retreat. First, let me say how nice it was to actually see people in person instead of over Zoom or GotoMeeting. We had most of the board in TX, along with our dedicated staff, although two of our trustees (one US and one Australia) were not able to make it except virtually/phone. And even then, they couldn't be there for the entire weekend.
And quite an end of the week it was turning out to be! The high temperature on Wednesday was in the low-mid 40s, but Thursday it was right around freezing, with precipitation Wednesday night and Thursday that ranged from rain to freezing rain/sleet to what even sounded like hail hitting my window in the wee small hours of Thursday morning. Friday was sunny, but still temperatures in the low-mid 30s and a cutting wind. It was fortunate that I was am on a roadtrip that started in northern New England on January 3rd, because that means I had along with me lots of clothes that I hadn't really expected to need in San Antonio!
Everyone who made it to TX was there for the board meeting on Thursday. as was our Trustee/Secretary (the US virtual attendee). The meeting went well, and then we met in the evening for dinner. On Friday, which was the first day of the retreat, we were down one attendee. The original diagnosis was - perhaps - food poisoning. Despite that absence, we had a really good day. We are currently working on aspects of the strategic plan and the roadmap for the future of the Foundation, and we made a lot of really good progress.
Yesterday (Saturday) morning came, and fortunately John was back with us. Which was good, because two others were NOT able to attend, feeling pretty much the way John had on Friday. We kind of changed the original diagnosis from food poisoning to a particularly nasty stomach bug. Still, we were able to make additional progress, including very short and medium term plans for getting positioned to take action on approving a first version of the strategic plan later this month.
After lunch, we were done with the official part of the weekend, although we had a farewell dinner planned for Saturday evening. And the temperature was up in the mid 40s, with lots of sun, so I was free to go out and explore the Riverwalk. I hadn't been to San Antonio for over twenty years, and while the city looks very different - a lot of change - Riverwalk looks quite like it did back then. I walked (I think) about 6-8 miles covering both sides. My favorite parts of it were - and are - the less commercial (restaurants, shops, etc) parts, and they looked very much like they had when I was there before. I took some pictures and a few of them are posted below.
I had considered staying an extra day in San Antonio, but decided against it this morning. I decided to head toward New Orleans, but I wanted time to go out and do some more walking, so didn't end up leaving the hotel until early afternoon. As a result of the later start, it felt right to break for the day in Lake Charles, LA - and also to consider staying here a couple of days. The weather is supposed to be nice, there are some intriguing possibilities in terms of music and the arts, and lots of outdoor opportunities. So I will likely be heading over to New Orleans sometime on Tuesday afternoon, and my (tentative at this point) plan is to make a reservation for dinner at Commander's Palace for Tuesday evening. One of my absolute favorite restaurants anywhere, and I don't even mind that I will be there by myself. Not sure what I will have to eat yet, but bread pudding souffle for dessert is definitely a real possibility!
As I said at the beginning of this post, it was great to be able to actually be in the same space with people for a few days - but I have to say I'm kind of happy to be on my own again. I have always - since I actually learned how to be comfortable being with people by discovering the extrovert aspect of myself in my teens - known that I need time with people to recharge from time alone, and vice versa. But it seems that the balance of those opposite (that sounds kind of Jungian) needs has shifted some with the last almost two years of so much isolation. I'm just more used to being by myself now, and I seem to feel the anxiety and need for solitude more quickly than I have for years.
By the way, I did actually try to a painting of Sammi the Wonder Dog Friday evening. The first time I have ever attempted a portrait of anyone/anything - and it didn't really work out. But I still enjoyed the attempt, and I will try again. There is just something about the feeling of tapping into that particular part of my creativity that is special, and absolutely different from other types of artistic expression. Maybe a part of it comes from the fact that I never really thought of myself as having any talent in this area, and thus I'm more free to experiment, and even to fail. And when a painting really does work, what joy!
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