NO. I mean the nature of you.

Im very grateful because.. for the first time in my life, I am enjoying and content with what I am experiencing while i am experiencing it, instead of taking it for granted and being totally bummed later on, while reminiscing. Coming out here has been the sickest few months of my life by far, and im glad I am at least mature enough to recognize that... I dont feel I would have appreciated it as much two years ago.  

for instance,

 my day yesterday... slept in.  Made pancakes.   In bacon grease.  With Nutella.  complimented by espresso, and tobacco.  Walked around the campground, and talked to new visitors from canada, and checked in with a few other groups of friends I have made who have been here for a while.  Those two hours described right there were sick.  Went on to climb at the buttermilks with John and Carrie.  We had a real bitchin time.  Warmed up on classics, I finally touched THE PROJECT of my bouldering career, repeated some hard problems, helped and joked around with matt birch by throwing him cleaning instruments, while he was rappelling on the grandpapeabody face.  Had a really good beer right after climbing.  Made some really bomb pasta and ate around the fire with a couple from new york, three canadians, and a kid from the netherlands... we had some great laughs.  Went to the hot springs... which were freaking hot.  Came back, kicked back a couple more beers and smoked hookah around another fire with some other kids from wisconsin i had just met.  

The other morning, the hardest decision I had to make all day, the most pressing issue, the topic of 30 minute dialogue between john and i,  was;  where are we going to climb today??  

thats freaking sick.

By far.  By far by far.  The most cherished aspect of this whole trip is the interaction with drastically unique people and forming of lasting friendships with genuine people, who are of all ages and cultural backgrounds.  from ex-druggie teenagers from the bay area.. to mature married couples from canada.. to firefighters from basque country..   to gym rats from a couple hours north.. to photography students.    

these interactions, and many friendships greatly surpass any measurable gain in climbing strength or knowledge or technique or any ticklist.