There are some things you expect to bring home from an Airstream rally.
Pictures. Camping tips. A few new ideas for places you want to visit. Maybe another gadget you suddenly realize you cannot possibly live without.
What I did not fully expect to bring home from our recent Colorado Airstream Rally was such a wonderful reminder of the importance of community.
We arrived in Ridgway, Colorado, surrounded by the spectacular San Juan Mountains at the beginning of fall. The leaves were changing, the mountains were glowing with color, and everywhere we looked there seemed to be another reason to stop and take it all in.
It was beautiful.
But by the end of the week, the scenery wasn’t what I appreciated most.
It was the people.
A Shared Love of Adventure
There is something rather wonderful about gathering with people who already have one thing in common.
For us, it was Airstreaming.
That shared interest gave us an easy place to begin. Before long, conversations moved from trailers and campgrounds to favorite destinations, things that had gone wrong on the road, lessons learned the hard way, places still on our bucket lists, and all those little tricks you pick up after spending enough time traveling with your home following behind you.
There were happy hours, plenty of laughter, shared advice and stories around every corner.
We explored the area in different ways. There were Jeep adventures through the mountains and opportunities to learn about the fascinating geology and history of southwestern Colorado and the San Juan Mountains. Some members of our group explored Ridgway’s connection to the original True Grit and the locations associated with the movie.
Not everyone did everything.
And perhaps that was part of what made the week so enjoyable.
People could choose their own adventures and then come back together later to share what they had seen, discovered and learned.
When Plan A Becomes Plan B
Much of the magic of the week began with our hosts.
They knew this area well. They were wonderful historians and generously shared their knowledge of Ridgway, the surrounding mountains, its geology and its history.
But they gave us something even more important than a great itinerary.
They created opportunities for people to connect.
And then Colorado weather decided it had its own itinerary.
Rain and chilly temperatures put a damper on the planned hot dog roast, but they certainly didn’t dampen the Airstreamers’ spirit of adventure.
Our hosts simply shifted gears.
Plan A became Plan B.
The gathering continued. The stories continued. And, of course, the laughter continued.
As I watched everyone roll with the change, I realized we were practicing one of the very things I talk about so often when I talk about resilience.
The ability to adapt.
The original plan changed. That didn’t mean the experience had to be diminished.
Sometimes resilience looks a lot like saying, Well, that isn’t going to work. What else could we do?
And when you’re surrounded by people willing to adapt with you, changing course can become part of the adventure rather than something that ruins it.
Resilience Is Something We Build Together
We talk a lot about the physical pieces of healthy aging.
Strength matters. Movement matters. Sleep matters. Nutrition matters. Recovery matters.
But there is another piece that deserves a place in that conversation.
Connection.
As we move through different seasons of life, our communities can change. Careers change. Children grow up. People retire. We move. Our routines change.
Some of the relationships that once happened naturally may require more intention.
And that means continuing to make room for new ones.
There is something wonderfully hopeful about realizing that some of the people who may become part of the next chapter of our lives are people we haven’t even met yet.
We just have to keep showing up.
Join the group.
Take the trip.
Pull up a chair.
Ask someone where they’ve traveled.
Listen to their story.
Share one of yours.
Laugh together.
Learn something new.
Stay Curious
I also came away from this week thinking about curiosity.
We learned about geology. We learned about history. We explored mountain roads. We admired spectacular fall colors. We heard other people’s stories and discovered places we might want to visit someday.
There was always something new to see, something new to learn and someone new to meet.
That matters too.
Healthy aging isn’t simply about preserving what we already have.
It is also about remaining engaged with life.
Continuing to be curious.
Continuing to learn.
Continuing to explore.
Continuing to build relationships.
Continuing to have adventures.
And being flexible enough to enjoy them when they don’t go exactly according to plan.
Maybe We Were Never Meant to Do This Alone
Our hosts didn’t simply organize a rally.
Through their generosity, knowledge, flexibility and thoughtful leadership, they created a place where people could gather.
And the people who gathered there created a community.
We helped one another. We shared what we knew. We learned from people who had already solved problems we hadn’t encountered yet. We laughed. We explored. We adapted.
And eventually, each of us gets the opportunity to become that person for someone else.
Maybe that’s another piece of resilience.
It isn’t only about knowing, I can figure this out.
It is also about knowing, I don’t always have to figure it out alone.
The rain may have changed the agenda, but it didn’t change the experience.
In some ways, adapting together became part of the experience.
And while I came home with photographs of beautiful Colorado fall colors and memories of mountain adventures, some of the best things I brought home were new friendships and the anticipation of seeing those people again at another rally.
Maybe one of the secrets to aging with resilience is continuing to leave room in our lives for people we haven’t met yet, places we haven’t explored yet, and things we haven’t learned yet.
Because sometimes resilience is built in the gym.
Sometimes it is built through rest and recovery.
And sometimes…
it is built around a campfire.
A Question to Carry With You
Where in your life could you make a little more room for connection, curiosity and unexpected adventure?
Maybe the next friendship, the next lesson, or the next great story is waiting somewhere you haven’t been yet.
Dr. Rebecca Hoeck, PT, DPT
Resilience & Wellness Strategist
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