For those few readers who don't know this about me, I spent almost all of my teenage summers out in the rural woods of New Mexico teaching boy scouts how survive in the woods—stuff like how to not get eaten by bears—at this huge ranch called Philmont. It was a great time, and it is one of a handful of experiences in my life that I can pin down as powerfully life changing. Most of the staff out there have the same feeling about the place, and what comes out of this little phenomenon is what I like to like to think of as the Phil-network.

The staff at Philmont are almost all in the midst of some sort of education, working hard to delay being all those grownup things that loom when room and board are no longer provided. This means sooner or later they, or rather we, scatter away to follow life dreams. This turns out to be a wonderful thing, because wherever you go, the Phil-network provides. In town for a few days, eh? Need a place to stay?

Let me explain. You would think that down here in upside-down world that is Sydney, there is no way that my quaint New Mexican ranch would have connections here. But there is not only one, but now two. Today, I happily did my part for the Phil-network by meeting up with Sarah for lunch, who found me, via Bill, via P.J!, via this very here blog. Meeting up with second or third degree friends is not something I normally find myself doing, but given the Philmont connection, I knew I had nothing to worry about. We come from the same place. And now I have a new Sydney friend... Good stuff.

There are major things that the Phil-network has provided me. Who talked me into living with him in New York? A Philmonter. Which friend introduced me to my girlfriend? A Philmonter. Given that fact, Philmont could be to blame, as much as anything, for me living in Sydney right now. Hmm. Maybe Philmont makes my world bigger.