Grasshoppers Always Go for the Win-Win!

There is a Goal

Whenever a Grasshopper and Ant cross-paths there is a goal: Mutualism.

You might remember this term from your high school biology class; it describes that special relationship between two organisms where both benefit from the association.

Mutualism in Action

Traveling is a great example of how Grasshoppers and Ants can achieve mutualism.

Grasshoppers are really terrific travelers.  We love to immerse ourselves in the vibe of wherever we happen to be and leave lots of time to be pleasantly surprised.  But guess what?  Ants are terrific travelers, too!  Their plan-ahead approach includes thorough research before the trip and access to the do’s and don’ts of the tourist community.

It’s when Grasshoppers and Ants travel together that the mutualism-magic happens!

The Traveling Grasshopper	The   Traveling Ant
Leaves time for unexpected adventures	Plans   an itinerary
Wanders off the beaten path	Sticks to the schedule
Looks to the locals for suggestions	Refers   to the guidebook

My recent visit to Portland, Oregon with the Queen Ant herself is a perfect example of how our oh-so-opposite takes on travel can blend together to create a day-trip that doesn’t disappoint.  What’s the secret?  Compromise; one perspective can’t trump the other.  Remember that mutualism isn’t achieved unless both individuals benefit from the experience.  Here’s how we did it:

1. We started with a plan that included the top guidebook highlights, like Powell’s City of Books, but we all committed to NOT being slaves to a schedule.  This was a big plus since we absolutely underestimated the world’s LARGEST bookstore!  Powell’s is a temple to the written word, and is worthy of at least a full day of exploration.  We easily spent twice as long as we intended (and half as long as we wanted) wandering from room to room.
   

   The World’s Largest Bookstore

2. We wandered off the beaten path and discovered the delightful Mill Ends Park, a magical 2 foot patch of green that has the distinction of being both the world’s smallest park AND the largest leprechaun colony west of Ireland.   Mill Ends Park is a wonderful example of Portland’s commitment to keeping it weird—they once installed a miniature Ferris wheel in the park using a full-sized crane!
   

   The World’s Smallest Park

3. The locals sent us to the almost too decadent Voodoo Doughnuts (although to be fair, this was really guidebook validation for the Ants since this eatery– and their maple bacon doughnut– has been featured on the Travel Channel).  Ordering at the counter is fast-paced (with a line out the shop and down the sidewalk) so we went with the Voodoo’s Choice dozen—and we weren’t disappointed!
   

   Voodoo Doughnuts

4. Sadly, we missed out on the Japanese Gardens because we didn’t stick to our schedule.  The gardens closed at 4pm and our extended bookstore exploration (and the impromptu stop at a Vietnamese Food Cart) made it impossible to make it in time.  But that’s okay…it gives us something to look forward to next time.

Here’s What You Need to Remember:

Ants, when planning your next trip, add a Grasshopper to your travel list, right between the first aid kit and printed copies (in triplicate) of your itinerary.

Grasshoppers, either travel with an Ant…or at least have one on speed-dial for when you get too-far off the beaten path.

Add Portland to your lifetime To-Do list.

Grasshopper Rul…

Grasshopper Rule #1:

“Own your choices, and whatever comes next.”

Grasshopper-living is a way of life.  It’s a frame of mind, but what is it exactly you ask?

Do you remember the children’s fable, The Ant and the Grasshopper?  If not, here’s the summary:

Throughout the summer and fall seasons the Ant is a work-a-holic harvesting machine whilst the Grasshopper is pleasure-seeking free-spirit.  When winter comes, the Ant has food and shelter aplenty, and the Grasshopper has a heaping helping of tough-life-lesson.

You’re probably expecting me to retell the fable: to vilify the Ant and vindicate the Grasshopper.   I hate to disappoint, but I think ol’ Aesop pretty much nailed it.  Just desserts were had by all.

The Ant worked hard (as Ants are wont to do) and earned the right to kick up all 6 legs and enjoy her food in her warm, comfortable home.  I won’t even begrudge her the feeling of superiority.  Meanwhile, the Grasshopper had 270 days of playtime (which he thoroughly enjoyed) and in classic Grasshopper fashion was left scrambling for a solution when winter came.

But here’s the real moral of the story:  Ants will be Ants and Grasshoppers will be Grasshoppers.  Both have a valid (and oh-so-different) way of approaching life.  This doesn’t mean the Grasshopper is destined to be a chronic victim of poor choices, and I’m certainly not going to slight the Ant for hard work and dedication.   One way isn’t better than the other, and there is room in this world for Grasshoppers and Ants!  I’m a Grasshopper and I LOVE the Ants in my life.

Here’s a little Ant–Grasshopper breakdown:

• Ants have a to-do list; Grasshoppers have a bucket-list.
• Ants crave security; Grasshoppers crave adventure.
• Ants plan ahead; Grasshoppers live in the moment.
• Ants like a well-balanced meal; Grasshoppers have been known to eat dessert before dinner.
• Ants are all work before play; Grasshoppers make work into play whenever possible.

You won’t find any Ant-bashing in my blogs (okay, maybe a little good-natured teasing), and I promise to never offer excuses for my Grasshopper-antics.  Instead I am excited to offer a place where we Grasshoppers can celebrate our unique view of the world.

Ants and Grasshoppers both approach decision-making in the same way: pros vs cons. The difference is in how the list is interpreted.

Ants are objective, and use their list to make a yes or no decision. More pros?  Go for it.   More Cons?   It’s a no go.  Don’t get me wrong, this is a really good…a really safe…way to make a decision. Ants rarely have to say, “I wish I hadn’t done that.”

But a Grasshopper…a Grasshopper always allows for some subjectivity. Sometimes a decision is still a good decision, even when there is more going on in the con-column. Grasshoppers rarely have to say, “I regret not trying that.”

Case in point: Six months ago my husband proposed the idea of moving to Oregon so he could finish a program in Outdoor Leadership. No self-respecting Ant would have green-lighted this adventure based on my list. I have seven items in the CON column, and any one of them is enough to deter the average Ant:

• Our kids are too young.
• My parents are too old.
• Every other significant person in our life lives on the east coast.
• My (never “our”) dogs are…neurotic, and prone to car sickness.
• We’ve never been further west than the Mississippi River.
• No savings. Worse than that, sofa change is sometimes essential currency.
• I’ve worked for the same company in Virginia for 18 years!

I have just one item on the pro side. But for a Grasshopper like me, it is the one pro that makes all the difference:

• If we don’t, we will always wish we had.

So here’s the true purpose of this first blog post: to determine if YOU are in fact, an Ant or a Grasshopper.

If, after reviewing my list of pros and cons, you are horrified to learn that I am currently Oregon-bound, sitting in the parking lot of the Painted Desert National Park while my kids are taking in the vistas with my newly retired parents, and my husband is tending to the dogs…then you are an Ant.

But if you applaud the spirit of adventure and understand that my decision has everything to do with living a life full of chances taken, opportunities seized, and dreams realized, then to you I say:

Greetings, fellow Grasshopper! You are most welcome here.