Jackson Hole is full of energy—obvious from the athletically clad citizens; skiing, kayaking, climbing, biking, hunting, fishing, running. And that energy is also found when people talk about, vote on, and fight for, or against, community and environmental issues. This is a place of passions. And my voice has been right there amongst all the others.
As I slip into my new, nomadic persona and out of the Jackson Hole life-style, I am not ready to drop my commitment to stand up for what I feel is important for communities and the great expanse of our public lands. Until I leave, I will attend meetings, make comments, read and respond to environmental impact studies and encourage others to do so. It is never difficult to find an issue in the valley that quickly develops support for each side. Here we experience the need to determine a multitude of environmental and community planning issues that most areas of the country don’t have to face—along with many that they do. Being a citizen of Jackson Hole carries a lot of responsibility and people here take that seriously. It requires learning facts and processes that you were not aware of before; of stepping into the public spotlight and finding your voice; of establishing a cadre of like-minded friends and helping to usher a vision into being.
Living in the Greater Yellowstone Ecoystem has been a great learning experience and an opportunity to define my values, my identity and my passions. I gained much in my years here and would be hard pressed to adequately express my appreciation to those who helped build my physical skills, my mind and my soul. And, fortunately, I will carry those gifts into the future.
I am not sure if I will see the same necessity for engagement on issues or the level of community involvement as I wander around the West, but my voice will still be there.