The Pelican Conundrum

[lumineaux]

As you all know by now, I'm pretty well burnt out between work and life and family and what not.  One of the things that restores my sanity is seeing my friends.  I can usually find a critical mass of my friends at any given SCA event.  Therefore, I would like to go to an event and just hang out and talk to my friends.

This is more difficult than it sounds.  For various reasons, I am particularly sensitive to the "they get their Pelican and stop working" criticism.  I am still working - just on a low key level, doing things that I can manage to do in my limited spare time.  Anyone who wonders what sort of work I'm doing is welcome to check the last year or more worth of ILoIs and related commenting.  I keep trying to tell myself that, by not overworking myself, I *am* setting a good example.  Nevertheless, when that old trope about Peers not really working gets dragged out, it cuts right to my gut and I feel as though I ought to be apologizing for showing up at events without multiple job assignments already in hand.

Comments

[janeelliot.livejournal.com]

My personal feeling is that it's our job to teach the next generation how to be peers. Sometimes that means backing off and letting them do the work. If we keep doing all the work, how will they learn? I spent a lot of time regretting that I gave up being KMOF, but I think it's better to let the kids handle it, then to take it back just for my own satisfaction. Sometimes the best thing we can do is to let things go. Besides, what do you care what other people think? :-P

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

I hear you.

I've been seriously ill within the last year, so am "only" holding Shepherd's Crook Herald, polling clerk, and Carolingian Mistress of Lists. For me, this is a rest. :) But being at an event and knowing they need a dishwasher or a table-mover and not leaping up is very very hard.

[katnboots.livejournal.com]

One of the things that restores my sanity is seeing my friends.

I've been wondering if there's some event coming up in the next month for more local schmoozing than Coronation. It would be nice to hang out with you at such a thing again.

[math5.livejournal.com]

You're supposed to be my living example :)
Admittedly I feel kind of odd going to Coronation and not being fully booked so your job is to prevent me from going to work in the kitchen or something until the second court :D

[madmikey.livejournal.com]

I think you are doing a GREAT job...and I for one tremendously appreciate the work you did to get my name and arms passed. Certainly it would have never ever gotten done if you hadn't stepped up and gotten me going on it...ie did it for me.

so...from an under achiever...to an over achiever...

THANKS!!!
and
HUGS

[artisticphoenix.livejournal.com]

It is perfectly fine to do nothing. By being there you are encouraging people to relax with you and that in itself is a service. I am so not a pelican who believes that I am only good as the last service thing I do. If you do things outside of the events to keep the society running (COH stuff) than you should not be feeling guilty about enjoying an event.

And plus if ANYONE says that about you, point them out so I can punch them.

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

It's said and pathetic that my first thought was that COH = City of Heroes. :-)

[artisticphoenix.livejournal.com]

Even more reason to show that you need to ENJOY the sca for a while!

Wish I could under this City of Heroes thing. :-)

I find it's odd

[zaduzbina.livejournal.com]

I haven't stopped working, but I'm curtailed ALOT due to my new diagnosis. I wonder if Pelican burnout contributes to it.

I manage to see you at many of the events I work at, So you aren't out of sight.

Andrea

[dame-margarete.livejournal.com]

I rarely do hands on service anymore, but I do a fair amount of mentoring. That still counts in my book and can be done on a much more flexible schedule!

Learning to sit back and not DO anything at events has taken a few years, but its a lesson that I'm glad a learned.

[beckishadow.livejournal.com]

I think the mentoring is every bit as important as the hands on stuff. If you don't train up new folks, then you can't complain about how crappy they do. :)