Life away from home in Port Townsend | Guest Viewpoint

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Someone told me that the average age in Port Townsend is 55, which puts me about 30 years behind the curve. I’m not entirely sure of the accuracy of that information, but looking around, I’d say it’s spot on.

Though I’m that much younger than most people around Port Townsend, I really identify with the older folks in town. I think for that reason I’m a pretty bad representative of the younger population. I don’t really do social media like others. I listen to really old music, and I try as much as I can to live a retired lifestyle.

I’d rather go fishing and sit in silence with a cigar than go to the club. I’m trying more and more to just call people instead of text, because I can communicate much more effectively that way. There’s nothing I hate more than going to the beach.

That’s why this whole pandemic thing hasn’t been that bad for me. I’ve enjoyed the slow pace of this community, relative to some bigger city, and I’ve liked having just a couple of friends to keep up with. I am no longer completely stretched, and I feel as though I can keep track of most things going on.

I think this all worked out like that for a lot of us, in the way that the pandemic has determined who we really spend time with. For good or for bad, world events have caused everyone to take stock of their relationships and the things that are important to them.

But there is always the other side of things.

I woke up at 10 o’clock this morning and I really should’ve been up at 8. Most days when I wake up I feel the pressure to plan and formulate the next 40 years of my life. I bet most other young people do.

Personally, I’ve got to start applying for jobs and I have school to finish up. I also need a side job in the meantime to refill depleted coffers, and if I get a gig like that, it’s going to take away from the time I should be spending doing other stuff. There’s also the matter of figuring out which city I should move to and the living arrangement I need wherever I go.

So what did I end up doing today?

Nothing.

Somehow, I need to quell the 55-year-old lifestyle, for the time being, and return to some semblance of the young person’s way of living, so I might be able to get somewhere. I’m a little too young to be old. A change such as this might include moving to an area with more young people, or just getting out into the world to see what it’s got to offer, and what I might be able to offer it. I really don’t want to come out of retirement yet, though.

I think a lot of young people are really struggling, for many similar reasons as mentioned above. That’s why we are on our phones so much. We think we can escape through a screen because it can block out the real world pretty well, but in reality it should probably be the other way around. But what are we supposed to do when the universe is coming at us from a million different angles?

I’m not sure.

So if you are one of these 55-ers or these twentysomethings, just know that one day you will be them, and one day they were you, and we’re not all that different from one another, so let’s all just get together and have a good time! Though, since COVID limits social gatherings, until then I’ll be watching NBA on my couch.

Every day.

(Luke Anderson is a Port Townsend native who is currently attending college.)