Laughter, ridiculous shenangains, nonsensical conversations, games, splattered with more serious moments of connection and friendship drift through my mind and I smile wider in spectator-like pride in my friend’s dream in action. Justin built this place for such echoes- for a drawing together of people in any way they choose- in his motto, Come as strangers, leave as friends. I remember when he first laid the plans out for me- I met him just after the first yurt went up and he was opening the campground for its first season of guests. He had accomplished so much already- a complete transformation of a wild thirteen acres into trails and pockets of groomed areas for gathering. But as he walked me up the trail to this spot I sit in now, excitedly writing notes as I identified plants and trees along the way, he laid out the five year, the ten year- the life plan of Ellicottville Yurts and Recreation. It would be his home- with a yurt campground village for year round camping and gathering- and he could then live 24/7 among the love he brought together under the yurts.
It was a model of camping he brought back with him from his days of working on parks and preserves in the West- where camping was a community activity- everyone came together around one fire- perhaps they came as strangers, but that’s not how they’d leave. His desire to bring communal camping to Western New York is now realized one crazy weekend at a time thoughtout the summer right off the 219 entering Ellicottville. The corral-like EVL YURTS gates have opened to so many experiences for visitors to his Yurts- and we all share the love we feel- even if just for a night- it glows on in echoes thought each new group that enters the property.
Justin is one of the firm supporters of my crazy dreams- and I can’t exactky remember what version I was on when we met, but he backed me full tilt, and still does. He was so excited to hear about the Van Plan, with thoughts and advice on how I could best accomplish it- and for that I am truly grateful. To have kindred dream spirits is such a blessing for those of us determined to be outliers in this world. We share in the realization that we both have a mission- whether given or self-imposed- to bring people together and give space for their crazy lives to collide, mingle, and multiply. Laying here in his hammock I tear up knowing that someday a fierce supporter of mine will sit on the bumper of my van and feel this same overwhelming pride in a friend’s mission taking its course.
While Justin has built a sanctuary to bring people to one place of laughter and community, I will set out to bring that sanctuary with me on the road, and enter homes of Loves throughout this country to join with me in laughter, love, purpose, and healing. I am home here, in Justin’s Yurtopia, and I am ready to bring that home with me with my whole heart to each place on my journey ahead.
Cheers to you Justin, and to many more nights of crazy love around your fire.
