Thanks

Several years ago I had a few events take place either by my own choosing or from outside stimulus , kinda the proverbial straw that breaks the camels back thing.

Without going into to much detail ( it wasn't drugs or alcohol ) it was life altering.

The people that helped me asked me what do I like to do..besides spending time with my family I answered "Fish , like when I was a kid..it seemed calming .I miss it."

Go forward some years,  I retired, started fishing again, trying to remember the lessons I had been taught, made lots of mistakes ..still making them...it was/is therapeutic.
However something seemed missing .
 
People.

I continued my isolation.True there are those magic times when being alone on the water at sunrise, quiet, calm, but isolation is different.

So the people that helped me asked find others that share my passion...What !?! No Way!

So after thinking about it and seeing kayakers out at Doran beach  I thought why not.

Reaching out and making friends does not come easy to me,accepting help does not either..this is a big deal for me..while it`s just "only" fishing ,it`s more than that to me..I`m not  fragile ,looking to be coddled or taken care  of , just treated as  who I am . Other than my family, I find that here.

Hope this isn`t TMI

For those of you have have shown me your kindness and fellowship I`m deeply grateful.

Respectfully, VK

I'm glad that we've found each other here at NCKA community.

there are many of us here like you, I'm glad you found us, it's a great place to have family

Agreed. Made friends here for life.

A good safe harbor. We all have storms and having others to help, just listen,  Just be there. Is why some (most) are here. Fishing is sometimes secondary to gathering together. It's like a school yard club that we all get to be in. Glad you found the harbor and glad who ever your lighthouse was, turned you on to the club!

A story I can relate to.   

Very cool of you to share, Thanks for putting it out there.

Look forward to getting to know you and putting some time on the water at berryessa. Were gonna have a blast, we will be fishing one of the areas I know best.

Great sharing "from the heart". Hopefully you will make it to Albion or GS8, these are4 truly family events. Just posting in the "Hook up" section will draw a few people out, at least sometimes.

Vic, Thank you for reminding me why this is such a special place. The people that I have met on here,
are some of the best. I have me "best" friends, but the friends I have met on here I am closer to than some of my oldest friends. Does that seem weird? Not to me, we all have so much I common here. There are some people that I have yet to meet, and I feel I know them better than a few of my "best"
friends that I have known for years. GS8 will be over load for me, meeting all the people that I have been friends with, but have yet met. Looking forward to that. The NCKA community is Bad Ass. Glad to have met you in person Vic, and hope you make it to GS8 !!!!!!
See you on the water Buddy,
Jeff