So I'm in town the other day, talking to this guy who runs a local gym about possibly becoming a member. As these conversations usually go, you talk about yourself a bit and what type of exercise you've done in the past and are currently up to, so of course I talk about how my main outlet is surfing. This of course spurs conversations of water temps, surfing year round, wetsuits, yadayada, all the usual. He smirked a little and we went on, finally coming to a conclusion for a membership package that works for me and my family.
After all the papers were signed, he looks at me and says that he'll get me an envelope. Somewhat absentmindedly and I guess instinctively, I told him to save the envelope, it would just end up in the trash. He looked back at at me and said, "What, you're a Tree-Hugger, too?"
We spoke for a few minutes about it and I talked about how I try to not take plastic bags when I don't need to, the incredible amount of plastic that ends up in the ocean and on our beaches, and how I have a hard time walking the beach because I'm constantly picking stuff up - I can't seem to bring myself to walk past it knowing it's going to end up in the water with us or worse, in our food chain.
He smirked and shook his head, I took my papers and left. I knew he really didnt get it at all, the surfing thing, the passing on the envelope thing. I also couldn't help but think that my concern for the health of the ocean is just one more positive effect that surfing has had on my life. And I definitely left hoping he'd understand one day.
I never really thought about it until he said it, but I guess he's right. I'm a tree hugger. And so with that, the NYNJSurf.com "Green Room" is born.
Enjoy the room, post up and inspire yourself and others to do things to help our planet survive us. And maybe hug a tree once in a while.
