Knights and cities

Last night I was inducted as the "fourth" in a group of friends in Waterloo who play Knights and Cities of Catan once a month. I'm a Catan fanatic. Friends of mine told me about this league, but when I had the opportunity to meet one of the members, it turned out to be just four friends who played together regularly. Additional players change the game dynamics, and this group had decided to stick with four.

Well, one of them moved away, so I was invited to take his chair last night. I had met Jack only briefly; to Melanie and Caroline I was a complete stranger. I had played Knights and Cities only twice, but they encouraged me to ask questions. "It doesn't matter how well you play," Caroline said. "Our only requirement is enthusiasm." We shared a bottle of an excellent French red. At the end of the evening they told me no other candidate had responded to their inquiries, and invited me to join them again in July. I guess I am in!

Today has been not-so-good. I'm temporarily out of work and worried about money. Worry brings on avoidance behaviour and kills the creative process.

I didn't feel like going for a walk first thing, but went anyway. Everything—hostas, grasses, even peonies flattened by yesterday's hail—was laden with heavy dew. It was magical. Those few minutes lifted me from the muck of anxiety and frustration.

Otherwise I didn't accomplish much. Cleared away the dyeing equipment, tidied my office, and worked at OOTS for three hours. That was it.

Apparently the key is to fill the rest of my days off with friendly, productive habits like those morning walks. But it is counterproductive to try establishing more than one habit at a time. It takes patience and persistence to change a lifestyle.