Community Building Tip: Local Waterways

[ysabetwordsmith]

For my current set of tips, I'm using the list "101 Small Ways You Can Improve Your City.

56. Swim your local waterways. Urban rivers, lakes, and harbors are being revitalized at an astounding rate. Organizing events where people can use waterways for recreation—even for one day!—helps visualize change. In Boston, the annual swimming events sponsored by the Charles River Swimming Club have bolstered restoration efforts for the once-polluted, now-swimmable river. See more cities that are reclaiming their waterways, over here.

If you can't swim, or your local waterways are unsuitable for it, there are other options:

* Bird watching/listening.  Water invariably attracts more wildlife.  Find a discreet place to observe and enjoy the activity.

* En plein air.  Bring art, writing, or other creative supplies and make something inspired by nature.

* Walking, biking, or other human-powered travel.  Many waterways have a frontage path.

* Boating (canoe, paddleboat, etc.).  Some places have rental watercraft.  This is especially a nice option for manual wheelchair riders, as it allows you to capitalize on your upper-body strength.

* Fishing.  Some waterways have fishing piers or allow fishing from shore or boat.  Look for a proximate bait shop as an easy way to spot places that encourage fishing.

* Conservation activities.  Many park systems offer classes, art days, weeding or planting events, etc.  This is among the best ways to make friends with other nature lovers.

* Clubs.  Some parks have organized groups for the above or other activities.

Comments

[siberian_skys]

Not a good idea here. I know people do it, but I'd rather not get eaten by an alligator and the ocean is too far away. :-)

Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

That's why I listed other options. With alligators, I'd stay the fuck in the car. I do not want to explain to a 10-foot lizard why I am not food.

Re: Well ...

[siberian_skys]

I live across from a retention pond. You never know when one is going to be laying on the bank. The neighbors had one laying on their front porch. Staying in the car is not a bad idea.

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[ysabetwordsmith]

I have often heard such from my southerly friends.

My favorite alligator video.

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[siberian_skys]

That video is awesome and very true. People are always standing by the pond trying to figure out what's floating in it, because there's always something.

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[ysabetwordsmith]

That is an excellent way to get eaten.

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[siberian_skys]

That and the bears that are making their way this direction. At least they're cute.

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[ysabetwordsmith]

A lot of wildlife is moving around, which is rarely a good thing.

Normally, I apply "live and let live" to outdoor wildlife. But I feel free to stop the occasional velvet ant (actually a type of wingless wasp) that I see. They are obnoxious, and as they do not belong here, have no right to invade the local territory.

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[siberian_skys]

I am with you. I have been known to go outside and save turtles that wander in the street, but with insects--all bets are off. Ugh, especially the ones that are on the wrong side of the walls.

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[ysabetwordsmith]

I am the Knight in Shining Armor Pest Control Service. I slay vermin of all sizes.

I have spent the past 2 days carrying confused ladybugs outdoors.

LOL

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[siberian_skys]

I would rescue lady bugs as well. As for Palmetto bugs, they come in my house they get squished or sprayed. Those are very nasty critters. They are a flying roach. You gotta love Florida.

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[ysabetwordsmith]

Also nasty biters, I've heard.

I slay wolf spiders. House spiders that stay in their webs out of the way, I don't harass until it's time to dust. Wolf spiders are aggressive and get stomped or sprayed.

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[siberian_skys]

Ewww. wolf spiders sound very unpleasant.

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[ysabetwordsmith]

Typically one to two inches in size including legspan, with large fangs, and fast. They are active hunters.

As if that's not bad enough, the females carry their babies on their backs. If you stop one, sometimes tiny spiders explode everywhere. O_O

If I'm not already wearing outdoor shoes, I stand back and nail the fuckers with wasp spray.

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[siberian_skys]

That is disgusting. And I thought we had some nasty critters. I would not want to live with those.

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[ysabetwordsmith]

Could be worse. Australia has two-foot-wide huntsman spiders. Hawaii has three-foot-wide crabs that raid garbage cans.

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[siberian_skys]

Very true. I knew a woman in college that had been a foreign exchange student in Australia and she said the first thing that happened when they got off the plane from states was that they were herded into a room and shown a video of what to avoid, since there were a lot of deadly critters. This was many moons ago, so I don't know if they still do this, but that was not very comforting. I think that's one of the next things on my trying to decide where I want to live list. What kind of varmints might I have to deal with.

Re: Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>Very true. I knew a woman in college that had been a foreign exchange student in Australia and she said the first thing that happened when they got off the plane from states was that they were herded into a room and shown a video of what to avoid, since there were a lot of deadly critters.<<

Yeah, warmer places have worse wildlife. Florida is "don't touch the grass." Jungles are "don't touch anything."

*chuckle* In Mexico, I spotted a line of ants on the ground carrying leaf bits. "Ah!" said I, "Leafcutter ants, how cool!" I tracked them to their hill, and then back to the tree they were harvesting.

Some of the other students wanted to go sit under the tree. I said, "Don't sit there. That tree is being harvested by ants."

Well, they never liked me, so they didn't listen.

Five minutes later: "EEEEEEE! I have ants in my hair! EEEEEEEE!"

Ants are dumb. They can't tell whether they're on the tree or the leaf. So 50% of the time they fall. On whatever is under the tree.

>> I think that's one of the next things on my trying to decide where I want to live list. What kind of varmints might I have to deal with.<<

Excellent idea. Check:
* Animals, including insects
* Plants, including invasives
* Other biohazards like algae blooms or soil toxins
* Disasters (storms, earthquakes, wildfires, etc.)

[shadowhive]

Our waterways really aren’t swim able (a combination of ones being not deep enough or too deep), but thanks to the dog we usually walk around them and watch the wildlife (although not so much lately because it’s been too icy and wet)

Go you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

Yeah, a lot are unsuitable for various reasons, which is why I listed alternatives.

Re: Go you!

[shadowhive]

Yeah 🖤 Theres one pool near here that’s a site of scientific interest cause there’s a rare type of crayfish in there (I’ve not seen them though cause it’s quite big/deep)

[erulisse]

New York state has made a major effort to make the canals here friendly to paddle traffic as well as repurposing towpaths and old railroad beds into a network of hike/bike trails (some of which are also amenable for skiers in the winter). I'm told that many towns have amenities for boaters and it is quite possible if one is inclined to plan multi-day trips.

I found this website to be quite informative on the matter: https://www.nycanals.com/Main_Page

Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith]

:D "I've got a mule, her name is Sal ..."