Friday rolls around and brings the mandatory hike. It’s both deeply dreaded and loved. Some drag their feet, desperate to get every second they can to work on their projects. Most are happy to hike down to the beautiful spot and jump from the white rocks into the icy cold teal river for a moment of relief from the heat. Especially difficult for everyone who stayed up late at Patch From Scratch watching live coding and music performances.
For some this hike will be the first time they’ve left camp at all this week. Fšk even got a round of applause for joining even though he insisted he would not leave his corner.
We can all feel the pressure of Open Saturday, but we also want to enjoy so many of the last moments. Today we have our last meals together like this, sitting on the narrow benches or across the field.
The kitchen crew has kept us well fed with all kinds of delicious foods from pasta to goulash, plus an extra fun night of hot dogs that everyone especially loved. I’m certain we will all miss the food. Or at least not having to think about food, having it come out hot and fresh with little effort on our part.
There’s an overwhelming sense of optimism. Despite few projects being complete, no one is necessarily concerned. Things will come together, in one way or another. Something will exist, whether it is what people planned or something new.
Or if people got side tracked, hopping on other people’s projects to change or improve them.
Collaboration is a huge part of PIF, people are extremely ready and willing to share what they know. Some of these collaborations will stretch far beyond PIFcamp, and people will find each other in locations all around the world to make amazing things together. Some are as ephemeral as each edition of PIF, they will happen here and only here. In this specific setting, where anything can happen.
Yesterday Coralie ran a workshop on PIFtime, participants debated on how the day passed. There was discussion around what hours felt the longest and the shortest, which parts of the day moved by too fast and which dragged on.
Right now time is moving so quickly with just one day until Open Saturday and yet every minute feels long as we continue to find ways to connect and make together. A whole week has rushed by, measured in currents and LEDs, but at the same time this strange little space seems to have endless days.
Overall it seems clear that no one regrets the time they spend here. The people, the valley, the river, and the camp accept each other openly. We find ways to work through language barriers, personalities and cultural quirks with little hesitation.
When the wind hit hard and fast people rushed to secure tents and collect each other’s bathing suits. Everyone was ready to help out and keep each other safe.
It’s going to be strange to leave and lose this pocket of community but the PIFcamp #12 participants are following the theme well. While we work on our projects we also are growing circuits of connection amongst one another, strengthening relationships that have existed for all 11 years of PIF while forming brand new ones.
Text by Sid Drmay.