I’m on a “high speed boat” about to leave from Naoshima Island to
Takamatsu. I hear and feel the rumbling motor. All the other
passengers are pretty quiet. Maybe they’re as tired as I am,
having spent a full day on the island moving about and
experiencing art. I’ve just been wished a pleasant journey by the
overhead voice in four languages, presumably, but I only can
confirm one.
This is my first post on a boat. And wow, first boat post is high
speed! I feel lucky.
If I weren’t typing right now, I’m afraid I might fall asleep.
I’ve been having a difficult time with jet lag lately, and part of
the reason, I think, is... my computer.
I have to do some work on this trip, and work means corresponding
with people in different time zones on my computer. I also
sometimes don’t sleep well when I’m anxious about work. Part of me
wishes I weren’t working on this trip, but I suppose this is the
exchange in this society of ours for a more free lifestyle without
the time and space constraints of a more formal job. (Go figure,
last time I came to Japan, I worked a job with regular hours and
didn't bring my computer.)
Nowadays, I fantasize about having other jobs. What would it be
like to be a boat driver? To feel the waves and current under me
and be responsible for others safe journey? What about a spin
class instructor? Maybe I’d have to be fit, inspiring, a good DJ,
and again, caring for my participants. I wouldn’t want anyone to
get hurt. I’d have to do CPR on someone if something bad happened.
Or what about being a park ranger? I could give tours and
introduce guests to specific medicinal plants, for example. Of
course while it seems idyllic, it might be scary to be near nature
too—it’s awesome in both it’s beauty and power. Again I would be
caring towards any hikers, giving them the best information for a
safe and fun hike.
I’m sure we all feel this way. Us being knowledge workers, or
anyone who mostly uses a computer all day to write or create new
ideas. We know we get our best ideas when we are walking or taking
a shower or some other immersive experience. (But of course that’s
only because we spent some time before putting the questions and
problems into play.) We desire an immersion. I keep trying to
define the properties of being fully immersed. One is certainly
being embodied, or conscious of your body.
Another aspect might be social. The occupations I mentioned above
are all caring for others in some way, leading them on an embodied
path. I feel most immersed when I’m on a journey with someone
else. Like when I'm teaching. I borrowed this phrase "teaching
hole" from another teacher. It certainly does feel like I come out
of a "teaching hole" when I'm done with a class. I haven't been
online in over 5 hours!
So here's a little list I'm working on. These all assume there's
no wifi. Many of them also wouldn't go so well with an internet
connection anyway.
immersive:
I want to incorporate more immersion into my life. But also, to recover from the immersion, I'll need definite relaxation and leisure. I suppose what I'm saying is I don't want any confusing in-between time... I want to know if it's immersive or it's not. And if I don't know, I want to give it up.