retreating into community

My road rarely seems smooth. Since the killing on my street a couple of weeks ago I've felt a little antsy spending my days in the urban mire, so I went on a weekend solo retreat to St. Dorothy's Rest, an Episcopalian retreat center and camp near Occidental, CA, near the coastal redwoods.

It was beautiful. The staff was very welcoming. I had a sweet little house with a deck and a fireplace all to myself. However going alone wasn't such a good thing. After the first restful day I began feeling anxious and lonely.

My anxiety eased after meeting a large group of knitters also on retreat at Dorothy's Rest. They took me in immediately. I brought a bunch of knitting to do alone, including a sweater that needed finishing. One of the instructors helped me master my seaming technique. BTW - the trick to smooth seams is patience and persistence.

I think groups of knitters are fantastic, funny, and genuinely appreciative of the effort everyone and anyone makes to knit at whatever skill level. The love of yarn and craft is an instant bond.

I'm so independent that being a part of a group is challenging, but I have enough time to myself. I'm ready to explore something new. The takeaway has been that when the seaming gets rough I can patiently retreat into community.

ps... how do you like my green sweater? :) specs on ravelry