city living, of a sort

[moominmolly]

Going on an impromptu run to Walden for midnight skinny-dipping with aroraborealis: brilliant.

Running in to 20 people who'd had the same idea, and discovering we knew them: probably more surprising than it should have been.

Water: warm and relaxing. Weather: pleasant at night. Molly: happy.

Comments

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I randomly swam around you guys at one point when you were way out but you seemed deep in conversation and I figure you didn't want to be interrupted.

(We were the group from the other beach-head.)

[bluepapercup]

Now that you are no longer pregnant I can happily go back to thinking that icon is of you in France with a ciggy in your mouth.

(even though I know none of that is true)

And yes, Walden is lovely.

Though I like it much more when it is lonely there.

[armoire-man.livejournal.com]

That's a great thing. And not more surprising than it should have been, not a bit!

-envy-

[bemocked.livejournal.com]

yeah for having dear friends close by...

I love the adventure of moving to new places all the time, but then there are those first few months of having no kindred-friends for a few months every time I land somewhere new... that part is not so fun.

[fanw.livejournal.com]

Some day I need to do this. I've never been to Walden at night!

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

Oh, now, that is a problem. We'll have to fix it!

Re: -envy-

[fanw.livejournal.com]

That's the trouble with nomadism. And yet, as a nomad, I find my closest connections among fellow nomads. If I stopped moving would I still be myself?

[cutieperson]

i vote for midnight runs to Spy Pond. cause, uh, i can actually get in there without hiking.

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

I do still want to try that! However, aroraborealis had never been to Walden, and it seemed a shame.

[dancingwolfgrrl.livejournal.com]

Me either, despite growing up a whole 15 minutes from it. My sense of adventure has never been highly developed, but what I have of it I've gained mostly as an adult (or pseudo-adult, or whatever it is that I am these days :->)

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

That is so weird. All you people who've never been there! Weird!

I mean, in the end, it's just another New England lake. But for me, it reminds me of Maine, since it's relatively isolated and quiet, and I like the mandatory ritual sneaking.

[cutieperson]

that would seem a shame, yes. i've been there a bunch, though never at night :)

[dancingwolfgrrl.livejournal.com]

Where's the boat ramp? I walked by where I thought you said it was the other day, but I didn't see it.

Also, I must find my water shoes.

[aroraborealis.livejournal.com]

That was you! I saw you, but I wasn't really up for dealing with lots of people I know only a little :)

Belated hi, though :)

[aroraborealis.livejournal.com]

This was my first time! It was GREAT. Next time, I'll call you!

[aroraborealis.livejournal.com]

Well, I'd been, but not at night, which was, in fact, quite different.

Spy Pond is the one in Arlington, right? I'd like to do that sometime, too, but I'd also like to go back to Walden, especially on a night with fewer people out there, or when it's not a school night so we can stay later. Because there's something about being out of the city... but for you, yeah, Walden at night is clearly not the way to go.

[cutieperson]

if you go down Pond St. it sort of dead ends into a parking lot. the boat ramp & a park are to the left of the lot. however, i recommend walking a little further to the left and getting into the water by going down any of the little stone step areas; the ground's easier to walk on & less slimy than the ramp.

[cutieperson]

perhaps after my knee is fixed i'll be able to handle Walden at night. which means next summer...

Spy Pond is the one in Arlington. i rather like how uncrowded it is during the day, which is not at all like Walden during the day.

[tisana.livejournal.com]

I was going to say...that's the second post on my f-list mentioning skinny dipping at Walden last night. They must have seen each other...

[sol3.livejournal.com]

ditto - and sounds so much more fun than my night last night : )

[jacflash.livejournal.com]

I totally need to do this. I live like four miles away now. No excuse!

[dancingwolfgrrl.livejournal.com]

hee! I've hiked around it and swum in it (I had lessons there, in fact, as a kid), just never at night.

[dancingwolfgrrl.livejournal.com]

Yay! Please do :)

[dancingwolfgrrl.livejournal.com]

Ew, slimy. Must find those shoes :)

[gretchens.livejournal.com]

When I read this , REM's 'Nightswimming' was playing. Spooky! I miss having a GOOD lake really close by. Pushaw does not count.

[coraline]

me too!

someday i want to go :(

[dancingwolfgrrl.livejournal.com]

Clearly, we should make this happen...

welcome to the right place to be

[gravitrue.livejournal.com]

no, it really was pretty strange.

when my batch of five (plus two later) arrived, there were a bunch of people in the water already. As we strolled out into the water from the shore, someone said "Welcome to the Right Place to be". It being dark and all, it was a few minutes before we figured that out that we knew some of them.

You see, since her party arrived last, m probably didn't quite pick up on the fact that from 10:30 til around midnight four seperate groups arrived at Walden. All four knew each other. I was in group 2; by the time she showed up, we were pretty much expecting that we'd know whoever showed up next!

It was pretty hilarious.

[aroraborealis.livejournal.com]

It's not skinny dipping if you have shoes on ;)

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

Shoes are totally cheating. I suppose you could have almost as much fun going mostly-naked-cheater-swimming, though. :)

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

I always miss my camp when I go to lakes around here. I should come up there some time soon.

[dancingwolfgrrl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but slimy pondweed is the anti-sexy. And leeches? Ew.

But clearly, we need a Walden expedition for take-it-all-off skinny dipping ;)

Re: welcome to the right place to be

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

That is pretty great. :) Sorry I was feeling unusually antisocial last night -- it is always good to get a hug from you.

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'll grant you the grossness of leeches.

[cutieperson]

you can!

[aroraborealis.livejournal.com]

Leeches are awful, it's true.

[dancingwolfgrrl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm standing firm in my "total nudity only at actual beaches or places where you never have to touch the bottom" position. But there are plenty of those around here! I'm also curious about the Mystic Lake beach in (I think) Medford. (It's on the Mystic Valley Parkway between Route 16 and Route 60.)

[laura47.livejournal.com]

i would personally be a bit more nervous about going there, because it is surrounded by houses. it feels much easier to avoid the cops when we're so far from the road at walden.

[cutieperson]

i've been told the cops don't patrol there because those roads are so secluded... and this is from a rather, uh, rowdy bunch who goes there late at night quite often. i highly doubt a smaller group of quieter people will have any notice taken of them.

[laura47.livejournal.com]

how rowdy is rowdy? i am not little miss quiet, myself.

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

Nikki: incredibly envious.

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

I thought lyonesse told everyone in her household about it from reading hammercock's post. You did not know?

[coraline]

no, lyonesse didn't inform her household, but more to the point, even though i saw hammercock's post, i had gotten 3 hours of sleep on the plane the night before, and was unconscious shortly after 9pm, so it wouldn't have helped me anyways...