In September of 2008, I created this blog, my Laguna Canyon blog, and my website, www.natureinorangecounty.com, with the intention of staking out some kind of intellectual territory online and sharing my interests in OC's nature with my fellow cybernaut. At the time, I was convinced that the Internet would provide the "nature networking" tools that I was lacking, for I had no idea where our local conservancies and parks were, and had even less of an idea about how I should go about in finding them. I figured that if I created something with the keywords "nature" and "Orange County," those who shared my interests would eventually find me online, contact me, and the networking process would begin.
Yet while the Internet does undoubtedly facilitate communication between total strangers to some degree, I never found the satisfaction that I expected from it. Since September, only two fellow OC nature enthusiasts have contacted me - far from the number I had initially imagined in my mind. What's more, despite all of my elaborate searches on Google, I myself was unable to come across the many handfuls of groups, associations, and classes that are actually out there, in REAL LIFE, growing and prospering every month. No matter what terms you type into that elongated rectangular search field, you will never be able to find all of the addresses, names and numbers of those who are just as passionate as you about OC's wilderness...
Truly, if I have learned anything over the past four months, it is that you have to personally talk to other hikers, bikers, docents and rangers in order for the nature networking to truly take form. It's been in volunteering for the Laguna Canyon Foundation that I've met some of OC's most knowledgeable naturalists, and it's been in personally asking the latter thousands of questions that I've been able to get the answers I've been seeking.
And now, in my fifth month of networking personally in the field, my efforts are coming full circle, and proving fruitful online. Just a few days ago, a fellow friend & naturalist sent an email to the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, introducing my website, blogs, and interest in nature to them. And today, I received a wonderful note from Thea Gavin, who after reading about my website from the email to the IRC, had the generosity of sharing her own site and projects with me. Tonight, with her permission, I share her two websites with all of you ~ with the hopes that a ripple effect has begun, that our network is becoming larger, and that you, dear reader, will eventually contact and join us, not only online, but also in the hills and canyons.
Thea's first site, Orange County Nature Writing, is a true gem, sparkling from all sides with inspiration and passion for Orange County's Nature. The web address couldn't be simpler: www.ocnaturewriting.com. (Why I never found her site in my searches, however, proves my point on how essential it is to personally meet those in the field, rather than staying behind your computer screen!)
Thea's second site, "My Wild Orange County, Poems & Pictures, Here & There" is also a special treasure for us here in Orange County, accessible at this address: http://www.theagavin.com. Take a look at her beautiful photos, read her work - I'm sure you'll be impressed!
As I leave you with these two links tonight, I cannot help but reflect upon the seemingly delicate balance between my Internet postings and the personal interaction that I have sought since September 2008. While it is tempting, in today's Twitterian age, to feel completely connected to other groups with merely a pad of keys underneath your fingertips, we must not forget the value of the shake of two hands and the exchange of a smile. May both approaches, in balance, bring more of us here in Orange County together, and may our network grow stronger in the weeks and months to come.
Tongashila, Pilamalaye.
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1 comment:
Jennifer,
I’m sorry your online efforts haven’t brought you the results you had hoped for. After over 4 years of blogging, I have attracted only a very limited readership. (I like to call it esoteric) And I have also come to the following conclusions:
The internet is a funny place, (if you can call it a place.) In it, you can become famous, or you can remain invisible, and you can’t always predict or control which will happen.
The blogosphere has become hopelessly saturated to the point where many of them are relevant only to their authors and a small band of followers.
Although I have made a few online “friends” through my blogs, for the most part I’m just doing it as a creative outlet for myself, and that’s fine with me. I’ve slacked off a bit over the past year. I don’t know at this point if I’m just in a slump or if I’m gradually losing interest in blogging. Time will tell. I think with this kind of thing, you have to do it for your own pleasure first and foremost, or there’s really no point to it.
I will also say that as a "homebody" North Orange County resident, I don't make it to the South county very often, but I'd like to get down to your Laguna Coast Wilderness Park someday and hope to meet you there. (Hubby will hopefully be getting Mondays off this spring)
Take care,
Cindy
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