I was born and raised in Tampa, FL, almost 37 years ago. My family is/was poor and a bit on the crazy side. My parents were what I would consider part of the back to the land movement in the early 70's and I think they spent a good part of my childhood dealing with the fact that the revolution never came. They moved out of the woods of northern California to raise two children and were then stuck figuring out some sensible way of living in the sprawl and conservatism that they moved to.I can't say that I really grew up with any sort of great political understanding, just kind of an us versus them general feeling. In the background was Reagan and Latin American Revolution, and folk music, but not a real sense of what community means.
I was never a great student and that was never pushed on me. I didn't have a real clear big picture to look at. Growing up in Tampa was growing up around a very large metal scene, and a pretty large skateboarding scene and a very confused punk scene (that began to get smarter and smarter). This is the environment that I found myself.
When I say found myself, I mean that I realized the things that were actually important to me, and learned how to take care of myself and be part of my community. I saw the bands and felt the energy (but also the fascism, consumerism, and top down control) of the metal scene. I felt the community (but general ignorance) of the skateboarding scene, the determination and commitment (but boring nihilism) of the punk scene, and the labor and importance (and general self righteousness and soullessness) of the activist community.
I felt very lucky to be part of a world where all of the good qualities of these groups was melting together with community spaces, in the streets activism, and creative energy. It was through this that life started making sense, and has been the basis that I work from to this day.
I spent a good part of my twenties traveling and learning (both around the US and Latin America), mostly by car, bus, and freight train. I built a feeling of what I expected in my environment and could not continue in Tampa. I moved to Gainesville because it had what I wanted and wasn't so far away from what I grew up with. For many years Gainesville meant group houses, community spaces and volunteerism. After falling in love and making a family, it has become also about family and work, and trying to find time to stay centered. My friends have changed, my expectations have changed and I have changed in many ways.
I am here now with a wife, two children (one with eye issues and the other with Aspergers), and a government job. Things are great, and I am happy. I just get confused sometimes about where the time goes. This is my reminder of time. Hopefully this will be entertaining, but it will definitely be valuable to me.
