I spent 18 years in Oly between 1984 and 2003. Ive been in scurlocks treefort, ran thorugh mud bay, climbed half the trees at TESC, passed out at meadow parties, seen 50+ full venue shows at the capitol theater, smoked herb on the roof of almost every building downtown, closed every bar twice, graffitied the steam tunnels at TESC and in the capital building, kayaked bud bay, longboarded down 4th ave at midnight, been arrested for jaywalking, stole a yatch, lived at ottos, danced all night at the northshore surfclub, reko muse, thekla, had sex in the middle of state avenue, went to the first 6 procession of the species, sqauted at the wizard toms, survived the 2001 earthquke despite being in the attic at media Island, dealt drugs to nirvana, motherlovebone and half of subpop and sst, drank coffeewith governer Booth Gardner, partied ten years of ABC house jams, played pool at marios, performed at the fourth ave, hung with negativland, had my emablmed cat 'art' censored during artwalk and got a gallery sale of $500 for it, managed the realestate of 11 business partnerships owning the rex, martin, chambers and other landmark buildings- including the best pizza shop east of new york, old school pizza (word for rich and kenny!), started two non profits, parties at the hall of the woods, graduated from TESC twice, once in a painted leather jacket...

jesus. you dont know half of those places cause they are gone, like reko muse, thekla, northshore. you cant get into the steam tunnels under the capital or TESC cause they are sealed off now. you can kayak bud bay, and run across mud bay alt low tide. grunge is over (as of 1992, in my humble opine, cause naming a thing can kill it, and selling it will), and I dont do drugs anymore.

You make the secrets. No one showed us how to get into the steam tunnels. we found them. scurlocks treefort is still there if you dont mind breaking federal laws, tresspassing and the very real possibility that you will break your neck trying to climb up the into the decomposing thing. amazing nonetheless. climbng the buildings to get to the roof is up to you. Volunteer for a local non proffit- you might like the Gifford Pinchot task force or sustainable community roundtable.

Olympia never was mine. But sometimes you get caught up in some of the magic that happens there and you end up with lifelong friends, great memories and eventually a sense that even though you cant go back, it was worth it. Something magic happens. its not about incrowds, or the right coffee, and you probably know that. alot of people in oly dont. Thats why i left. I was there so long that I became old and crusty, and i didnt feel young and exited anymore. I am in portland now, where I was born, and I do excited. Oly is bittersweet to me now. I am glad you are excited- it is wonderful in so many ways.

In Pdx have city repair, my aikido practice, oregon tilth and portland permaculture guild, great local art and street performances, dumpster diving, great costume parties, community gardens, lots of wholistic health care, the list goes on. I miss the access to wilds that oly had- get on you bike and in 30 minutes in any direction, the puget sound, stands of amazing trees, lost on a peninsula, or in a rowboat, plucking rock crabs just off the access to zittels marina. in about three beers time you can catch enough rock crab in a cage for three people to get stupid full of sweetmeat. not so bad for drunk rowabout.

If you want Oly to be yours stay grounded and get excited. there is alot happening. and maybe, just like I did in 1984, you can start at the capital theater. I hope that the heart is still beating. But you will never know the Oly I knew. Its gone. You have to make the new one.

good luck, and keep us posted.

this cats been oly almost as long as I have ;) hi erik!