14-Aug-2005
Well, I never imagined I'd be doing this or saying, but I'm leaving Alaska to move to Washington, D.C. More precisely, I'm moving to Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, but it's all the same.
When I was asked to spend four months in DC working on contract with Greenpeace, I was reluctant to leave Anchorage for the summer, but realized I needed the money--and, frankly, I thought the challenge might be interesting.
It was only a few weeks into the commission when I came to realize that both the challenge and the opportunities were greater than perhaps I had anticipated.
Things began with the One World Expedition and Project Thin Ice: the attempt by explorers Lonnie Dupre and Eric Larsen to become the first people to make a summer crossing of the Arctic Ocean, as a means of bringing public attention to global warming. Lonnie and Eric weren't able to complete their voyage, but they are gearing up for a similar attempt next year, and I'm working on a book and documentary about their efforts.
At the same time as the prospect of more work with Greenpeace emerged, other doors opened. SeaWeb asked me if I would be interested in writing more for them. There is a possibility of my writing for the Washington Post Magazine. Huntington Press, a Las vegas-based publisher, agreed to publish my boxing book.
The signs all felt right and so I decided to go ahead and make the move. I am pretty much committed to trying this out through 2007 and if it doesn't work--or even if it does and I decide I've had enough--Alaska will still be there. As will Montana, Minnesota, Vermont, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and all the other numerous beautiful and lively places I've visited over the years and contemplated making my home.
But for now, it's a return to the nation's capital. But first, a week packing up my belongings in Alaska, and then a road trip, via Grand Marais, Minnesota (to record an on-camera interview with Lonnie for the documentary) to DC. I'll try and keep this newsletter updated from the road.
