In discussion about my having gotten myself from Bellevue to Vashon entirely on public transport, CoffeeBoy said to me the other day, “You’re so resourceful!”

I so appreciate that. I’ve always had a knack for deciding something and making it happen, but I hadn’t used the term resourceful. Yet, come to think of it, that’s exactly what I am. Faced with a challenge, one that is non-negotiable (like being in Bellevue and having to get my ass home, on a motorcycle, and back to another island in one day), I come through.

To remind myself that this is a useful and positive attribute, here are some ways I’ve been resourceful lately:

- I ground up large grains of sea salt into a powder using my coffee grinder. This lets me use less salt, because it increases the number of pieces and therefore exposes more surface area to my taste buds. This is my theory, anyway.

- I brought my platform bed to my new room so that I would have storage space underneath. As soon as I knew that the bed would fit (standard full-size), I planned what to bring, knowing how much storage space would be available. Between my little 5’ x 8’ room and the massage cabin, I have exactly enough room to store everything I brought with me.

- I hung extra curtain clips on the curtain rod in my room. I use them to hang random things that need to dry, like my hot-tub towel, my soaking wet motorcycle gloves, or an odd sock. Nothing soiled or smelly. Just clean stuff that needs to get dry.

- I cadged a small rolling cart with wire shelves and made it my storage cubby. It was out on the side porch, forlorn, and I appropriated it. The former occupant of my room said she had liberated it from another staff building this last winter, so "have at it". It now houses the electronics and tools and jewelry-making supplies. It has a drop-down canvas front for those times when the electronics need some “me” time.

- I consolidate my trips on the property. That’s where the office is. And the wi-fi. In the mornings, I brush my teeth as I walk to the upper bathhouse to use the facilities. I come back and eat brekkie in the staff kitchen, conveniently located just beneath my room. My next trip is at 8:30, to use the wi-fi in Otter Lodge (aka the library below the cafe) and wait for the office to open. At 9:00, when the office is open, I can look at the massage book to see what today’s schedule is like. I bring the computer, earphones (for calling people on Skype), iPhone (for noting appointments), a towel (first soak of the day), massage clothes (stretch tank, yoga pants) and a book (downtime companion). Oh yes, and always stationery, in case the mood strikes and I want to send a non-pixelated message to someone.

That’s about it for now. I’m going to eat brekkie and then pack up for the morning jaunt. (Oops, forgot my towel. Oh well, I can dry in the sauna, right?)