Battening the Hatches for Winter Doesn't Mean Playtime is Over

I have to assume that a hatch is some sort of shutter or cover for a window that one lowers in severe weather. Battening a hatch must mean securing the hatch by wedging a stick in it, thereby making it impossible to pop open even in the ugliest storms.

Winter is soon on us in Port and it may seem time to start withdrawing to our caves, locking down our windows of access — the time, in fact, to batten these hatches. I would agree if this was just a weather issue alone, but the fact is winter winds, snow and ice are not the only challenging aspects of winter.

Winter, for many, is a time of increased isolation, a time when weather seems to prompt us to burrow inside — but when we also lose day-to-day contact with our communities. By "closing our windows" we cut ourselves from daily interactions with friends and neighbors, heightening our sense of isolation and, for many, prompting or increasing depression.

I wonder what others in Port do to counter these winter shutdowns. Instead of closing yourself off, do you find ways to reach out in the winter, to connect, to gather? When I came to Port I had visions of community get togethers, clubs, music nights, etc., and the first winter was very challenging as my attempts were preliminary.

I bought a coffee shop and two clubs meet at night; there is one but the participation is very small. A recent idea — a community potluck — had better attendance, but, again, was preliminary, requiring follow up. My question is, rather than beat the winter "chill" by hibernating, are there ideas you can share that involve warming up in the fire of new friends and community building?

Please respond in the comments area below ... it is starting to get cold!