Folsom California is hot. I mean really, really hot. The kind of heat that makes you dread having to take your trash out. The kind of heat that makes a 90 degree day exciting enough to venture outdoors. The kind of heat that caused my internet search history to look like:
“Signs of heat stroke”
“Best activities to do indoors”
“How much smoke inhalation is too much?”
After spending so many days hiding from smoke and sweat, my internet searches guided me towards the East Coast. My interest in the East Coast surprised no one. I have dreamt of living on the East Coast since my early days. Although my childhood dreams of New York City have faded, my curiosity of snow and moving to a state with four seasons took no rest. Sure, scuba diving for invasive species, water quality monitoring, and leading guided hikes were not particularly on the exact checklist, it still sounded so perfect to me. Surely something I could never achieve. I have never lived in snow. I have never been scuba diving. I have never driven a boat or a snow plow. Doubts flooded my mind about as quickly as a California Wildfire spreads. I attempted to extinguish those doubts as I stepped off the plane in Boston. I was so cold. Bone chilling cold. The types of cold that would rattle a Californian. This type of cold bit at my face and exasperated the red in my cheeks. I could not focus on even being nervous to meet my new co-servers, because my Californian reptilian tendencies failed me at my attempt of thermoregulation. I arrived at the cottage I will be living in for the next year and was greeted with warmness and acceptance. I began to feel the confidence rush into me like a fresh breath of air. That is until words of “heat wave” started being thrown around. “It is so hot right now, this winter is crazy”. “It is too warm for the lake to freeze over or for snow to stick ''. These remarks made me internally make fun of myself. How could it possibly get any colder? I took a massive step, more like a freefall, from my “I can handle intense weather” throne. Since arriving, I have learned to snow plow, learned about the current initiatives of the lake, split logs, and so much more. I have gained respect for the East Coast and its weather patterns, or lack thereof. I have gained respect for this lake and its resilience. I can feel Squam Lake’s breath in every gust of wind. I can see its heartbeat in every ripple in the water. I can smell its strength in the trees and critters around it. Squam Lakes Association does not discriminate against my lack of experience in these areas, but emphasizes and celebrates my experience in other areas. My new friends here, the staff here, and the Holderness community have opened their arms so wide for me, and the lake has followed.
Stella is a full-time member who began serving at the Squam Lakes Association in January. You might see her out on the trails or lake through October. Learn more about Stella here!