Matthew Grapengieser / flickr
At approximately 8:22pm (PST) last night, Jordan Stoll ended what can only be described as a strangely unimpressive playoff run by the Vancouver Canucks. Around British Columbia (and nowhere else because, well, everybody hates the Canucks and their fans) folks are waking up, again, to hockey disappointment – albeit of a different variety than last year’s riotous exit from the playoffs.
And everything is going to be okay. After all, Vancouver is one of the best places on Earth to spend your summer. So, with your time freed up thanks to our city’s under-performing hockey team, here are three ideas for you to consider as you strive to fill the void in your calendar (and possibly your soul) between now next season.
1. Go play outside. Whether you want to make your balcony more sustainable, community-garden, play some delightful disc golf, go camping, ride your bike, occupy a public space, or, for the semi-non-creative, drink on a patio instead of next to a giant screen, there are more than a million fun things to do outside on the West Coast.
2. Volunteer your time. Watching (approximately) three hockey games per week from now until the middle of June (when the Stanley Cup Finals take place) could’ve taken up almost 20-hours of your life per week. [Editor’s note: the math is pretty simple – one hour for preparation/travel for/to the game, three hours to watch the actual game, 30-45 minutes to reflect on the experience and possibly cry for joy/sorrow, one or two hours of lost productivity the next day because of post-game stress and consequential fatigue]. Think about spending your 20 free hours providing some service to your community – after all, giving back feels great.
3. Watch Game of Thrones. Not into the whole “being active” or “being helpful” thing? Well, I’ve got strategies for that, too. The HBO series Game of Thrones is a beautiful fusion of The Sopranos and Lord of the Rings. And, like hockey, Game of Thrones involves dynasties competing for dominance in a “game” that is underscored by the philosophy that the “players” either win or die. Needless to say, this option will keep you out of the Sun, creatively engaged and, well, it will utilize your superawesome entertainment unit to most of its potential.
So there it is (or “there they are”). Three foolproof ideas that will help you move-on from the Canucks’ early exit while simultaneously building community in a positive way.
Have fun with it.