Saturday, July 12, 2014

Pickelball at Star Valley/Meeting People 101, Get Involved

One of our concerns, when we started full timing, was wondering if we would meet people and make new friends. It turned out that it was really easy. The answer was to get involved with what ever is going on, volunteer, and share your expertise,( heck you can even meet people by just walking around a campground and asking them about their rig.
So last year we were really busy building our shed/studio and were kind of recluses. Yeah we did some craft shows and had a great time at the Escapade, but we didn't really meet a lot of people at our place in Star Valley. This year we again got into our rut of making cabochons, wire wrapping them, braiding kumihimo necklaces, and preparing for the summer shows. However we decided to make time to get involved and again we have been rewarded by meeting so many nice people.
One way to get involved, was for me was to join the Men Golf League. There I could combine exercise with meeting people and having fun. Another activity we thought would be fun was to learn to play pickelball as the Star Valley Rv Resort has a really active and large pickelball club.
Now we had met a pickelball player last year and one day I ran into him while walking Molly. Jim, (he helped us put up the trusses last year), told me that all we had to do was show up at eleven am. on Thursday as the club provided free lessons. Thursday arrived and we rode our bikes to the court. There the courts were packed and everyone was slamming the ball back and forth. It was obvious that a good time was being had by all.
So at eleven we met Priscilla, one of the clubs instructors, who welcomed us and handled out paddles and balls. She told us about the club and before long we were all standing on a court dinking the ball back and forth. One hour later we were were playing our first game and right away we knew we had to get our own equipment and join in the fun.
Thanks to the magic of the Internet Renita ordered a set of paddles and balls and they arrived three days later.Showing up the next Thursday we met other beginners/new club members, Jon and Marsha, Bo and Lizzie, and John and Renee, to name a few, and by the end of the morning we were firmly hooked. It was a lucky day to join as the club was having a barbecue/social that evening and everyone loves a bring your own dish/ buffet barbecue.
Suffice it to say we had a great time at the barbecue and today we played for almost three straight hours Tired and sweaty we returned home, glad we had taken the time from our busy schedule,(we have a show tomorrow). We have been richly rewarded with a new sport, lots of new friends, and a great way to meet people, exercise, and have fun without tearing up our bodies! Clear skies

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