An Urban Safari

We were only told about our secret meeting location a couple of hours before. We had no clue what was in store for us except that we would “embark on an outdoor adventure as an intimate group— phones off… fully unplanned… and move about our afternoon inspired by simply what is around us.”

The mysterious location turned out to be on a street corner besides Toy Chest, a block north of Healdsburg Plaza. A group of around 15 of us were grouped in a circle at the corner. In the message revealing our meetup location, we were told to bring “an item that will help you a) connect authentically with the community and/or b) assist in your creation of joy and presence”. The guy to my right brought delicious cookies and passed them around. Another woman brought Mardi Gras beads, which led to a brief conversation about Carnival, Lent and religious roots of Mardi Gras. We now had our tribe accessories

I had misunderstood the concept of what to bring. I had prepared my awkward all-listening pendant as a show-and-tell. Except it wasn’t charged. I’m glad I wasn’t asked what I brought.

For the next 3 hours, we were only to talk about the present - nothing about the past or the future. We then dropped our phones into the organizer’s cavernous rucksack. We did a round of intros and were asked to state an intention for the experience. In that moment, something prompted me to say that I would observe things I don’t normally notice.

We found out why we were outside a toy store. Our first activity was to pick a single item that called to us. I chose a notebook with cat motifs, partly because I was thinking of my intention of observing what I didn't normally notice (and perhaps recording it) and partly I was thinking of my daughter who loves cats, and maybe they would enjoy recording what they don’t normally observe too.

After everyone had made their selections, I felt a tinge of mimetic desire. Wow, someone chose a bubble blower - what a great way to enliven the scene. Another 3 jammed together with a xylophone, a den den daiko and a few bells. Why didn’t I think of that? And then another guy chose an Ouija board and I thought what a genius way to invite other people into your space

Our organizers generously paid for all the items - who said you can’t buy happiness?

The group vibe-ily decided to head towards the central plaza. Someone from Stanford StartX started chatting with me. And I broke the rules by recalling how I had been rejected from the accelerator, although I had good fun involving my friends in the application. I found out she was part of the admissions team. What a small world!

A community band just happened to have finished their session in the pavilion anchoring the plaza and were going to take a break. Spontaneously, our musical trio started picking up the slack. I thought it was hilarious but the rest of the folks in the plaza stared at them blankly, perhaps not understanding the context.

I walked around the plaza and before I knew it, Xylophone guy was chanting “fzz boom wub-bub Patrick! Fzz booh mmm” while striking up different tones. He was literally improvising a theme song for our fellow mate! It was so celebratory and fit the moment so well that we all started chanting the theme song - Patrick was radiant.

A small group of palestinian protesters were waving their banner at a corner of the park. Xylophone/theme music guy decided to approach them and make more theme songs. My spidey-sense started tingling as he explained “I want to make a theme song about who you are, not your movement” The protesters naturally wanted to explain why they were there. Xylophone guy abruptly made a retreat. “That did not go well, I’m Jewish.”

I joined the Ouija group after I learned that they had discovered there was a ghost amongst us in the plaza. We decided for the board to work, we need to be in the right mental state. So Ouija guy led a really calming 2 minute meditation, right in the chaos of the plaza and just as the community band was starting to tune their instruments after their break.

Alas, just as the meditation was ending, someone informed us that the group had “decided” to proceed. Maybe I wanted to Ouija or maybe an hour was about all I could take before my introverted self began to assert itself. As we moved off the square towards Pizzando, I started to observe anti-vibes from conforming to the group’s wishes. Was this the stubbornness that so many have ascribed to me? Was this rebelliousness or fear? Or was I being called to vibe-off on my own?

I heard a whiff of music down Foss Creek. Where was the live music coming from? I felt a tug towards the enticing sounds and landed at the fringe of a car park. Three Hispanic looking men were enjoying Mexican music on a bench. I smiled at them, they looked at me stoically

I saw a lady in service work uniform resting on a nearby bench perhaps also enjoying the music peripherally. I like how Healdsburg’s urban design allows folks to enjoy the town at different layers of density.

As I wandered along the creek, I came upon a native garden with detailed botanical explanations. Normally, such gardens are more my wife’s thing, but recalling my intent to observe what I didn’t normally, I forged ahead. I still didn’t have the motivation to read and learn from each placard as Elaine would, but I looked intently at a native plant, noticing each crease and fold, and how the outer edges were more burnt but the inner core was green and fresh. Objectively, it wasn’t much of a native garden but I did appreciate the city for trying.

Suddenly, as I was leaving the small garden, I heard a series of shouts and greetings. It was a spin-off from my group. They recognized me (was it my beads?) and I felt seen (thank you!). They asked how the garden was and I gave an honest answer.

Walking back to the Hub, what do I see splayed along the sidewalk? A plethora of sea algae looking plants with a guy kneeling and tending to them. It was obvious he was a fellow Edge Esmeraldan. I spent the next 15 minutes learning about these wild Sea Palms. He had just harvested them from the nearby coastal islands. I was glad he wasn’t part of our experiment to only talk about the present as I enjoyed geeking out with him and listening to him talk enthusiastically about his plans to farm these huge frond leaves in their natural habitat.

With that, my new-experiences cup was filled way over the brim. I turned inward as I walked back towards my AirBnb. Was an hour all I could stand for a group activity even if it was a delightful one? Should I have pushed outside my comfort zone and invited the group for a pizza lunch? Or maybe just followed the spin-off group when they greeted me so warmly? Then, somehow the refrain from an earlier Yoga session popped into my head: whatever happened was what needed to happen. And all I was left with was gratitude and joy.

Thanks to Mike Wang and Arielle Zuckerberg for organizing a truly unique experience and

Christin Chong, PhD

with timely feedback.