Livin' la vida local 

Glenn Harper

Gloria Towne | All Around Towne Photography

I borrowed the title of this column from Ricky Martin’s 1999 pop song, "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Livin’ the Crazy Life) because I think living the local life is about as sane a thing as we can do. 

Where else can we be other than here and now? This is the subject of "Be Here Now," the 1971 book by Ram Dass and echoed in "The Power of NOW" by Eckhardt Tolle (1997). 

Certainly our technology, combined with our imagination, can give us the illusion of being elsewhere for a time, but eventually reality surfaces — we are inhabiting this body at this moment and our thoughts and actions at this place and time are the only place where we have any degree of control.  

If you are reading this, you are likely in Thurston County, Washington, a stunningly beautiful place on our rare jewel of a planet. We are blessed with an abundance of natural gifts, and a population of many caring people looking for ways to help make our community a better place for everyone to live. Nonprofits are a way for everyday people to pitch in to improve life right where they live. 

One of the ways we can support nonprofits doing good work in our community is the Give Local campaign managed by Community Foundation of South Puget Sound. From the website: 

“Since 2017, thousands of neighbors across Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties (and friends from outside the region) have come together to support the many community causes that keep the South Sound thriving. 

"Give Local is your chance to give in support of your favorite nonprofits, discover ways to get involved, and help spread the word. Join your community in giving to what you love most from November 9 – 20, 2026.” 

Over 150 organizations are participating in the 2026 Give Local campaign. Since this column is for and about elders, I would like to mention a few that I know of that serve elders that I’ve worked with over the past 10 years (quotes are from their websites): 

 Senior Services for South Sound - “We want seniors to enjoy life to the fullest. With multiple nutritional sites and two senior centers, we provide seniors with dozens of personal growth classes, health and wellbeing classes, new friends, and opportunities for making a difference.” Click here to visit the website 

Senior Action Network - “A collection of member businesses in Thurston, Mason, and Lewis counties dedicated to enhancing the lives of seniors through business development and services.” Click to visit the website 

Thurston County Food Bank -  “Our mission is to eliminate hunger in our community through neighbor helping neighbor.” Click to visit the website 

Food Source Foundation - “The Food Source Foundation gets good food to anyone in the greater Olympia area who needs it. No income check. No ID. No questions. Just food, for whoever needs it.” Click to visit their website 

The JOLT - “Established in May 2020, JOLT stands for The Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater. We're a hyper-local news organization focused on Thurston County, Washington, and publish every weekday on our website, and in a weekday newsletter of our headlines called "The Daily JOLT." The JOLT's website is where you are now!  

The final day of the Give Local campaign is Nov. 20. On Nov. 19, a new event called the Fall Feast of Friendship will be held at Funeral Alternatives of Washington at 455 North St. SE in Tumwater. The organizations listed above will be represented there, and there will be free food provided by local chefs and businesses served on a first-come, first-served basis. 

This is an opportunity for elders (55+) to come together and learn about local organizations the may want to support, or from which they may benefit. 

From 1 pm to 2 pm there will be an optional Speed Friending session. Similar to Speed Dating, Speed Friending is a way of meeting people to find platonic friendships.

Participants will be seated opposite one another and engage in a series of 5 minute conversations before rotating to the next seat. At the end of the hour, participants will have met 12 new people, some of whom they may want to get to know better. Solo agers might meet others with whom to spend time during the holidays, and beyond! 

There will be separate seating available for people who may not find Speed Friending their cup of tea. 

From 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. will just be general socializing and merriment before going our separate ways. 

May we all find joy in “Livin’ la vida local."

Glenn Harper provides support in aging and end of life. He is Chair of the Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council and board member of the Senior Action Network. He facilitates several free Death Cafe and Elderhood Roundtable gatherings in the area where Elders are invited to talk about difficult topics in a nonjudgmental space. Learn more about these events here.