Pathfinding – Pace Smith: Recent Episodes
Pathfinding – Pace Smith
In keeping with my annual tradition (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008), this New Year’s Eve I’m reflecting on everything that’s happened this year.
My favorite game of the year was Tunic. The Golden Path is the best puzzle in any game I’ve ever played, and I loved figuring out the language. I also loved Tears of the Kingdom, Chants of Sennaar, Stray, Fallow, Slay the Princess, Patch Quest, and Dave the Diver. My favorite visual media was Bodies, Kaleidoscope, and Fall of the House of Usher.
In January, Kye moved out for good.
In February, Citadel moved in. I attended Mountains and Rivers Temple. I had a money scare; I was a hot mess and it was okay. I unlocked my little. I built a space station for cats, got cuddles, and talked about how much I love cats for an hour.
In March, I attended Helena’s Wheel of Consent workshop in Vancouver. I realized how few things in my life I was actually wanting, and how much I was tolerating. I made a list of all 32 things in my life that I was tolerating, and started chipping away.
In April, I went to the Aphrodite Priestess Retreat and got permabanned.
In May, I had lunch with Citadel’s mom. The first Wanton Wands of Wonder occurred and it was phenomenally awesome.
In June, Rose turned 30 and gave us a concert for her birthday party! She became a portal of music and emotion; it was one of the best shows I’ve ever experienced. G & V hung out in the Love Shack.
In July, I went on a very gay vacay, at which I had a breakdown and also one of the best experiences of my filthy worthy perfect life. The second Wanton Wands of Wonder occurred and it was just terrific.
In September, the third Wanton Wands of Wonder occurred and it was tremendous. I wrote the rough draft of Catfish Waterslide.
In October, Chelsea came to visit. I had a lovely birthday orgy and I got to flip the whiteboard with a dramatic flourish. I saw my first opera, Carmen, with Rose and Mischa. I broke up with everyone, and decided that before I started dating anyone new, I first needed to become someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
In November, I attended my first Tacoma Polyamory Social: 53 RSVPs, all strangers, at an unfamiliar location. Take that, social anxiety! And it paid off because I met a bunch of people and made at least one new friend. I finally became someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I stopped attending Wanton Wands of Wonder, and I started dating Stephanie.
In December, I graduated therapy! I escaped 3 escape rooms in one day and a mirror opened reeeeeaaaaaallllllyyyyyy slowly. I joined a new D&D campaign: Alchemist Hunters and/or Huntees. I had Yule morning donuts with Julie. I made an infographic and a map of my life. I had a lovely movie night with Kerri. Stephanie came to visit for a three-day Sapphic Smoochapalooza, and we ate 90% of Citadel’s brownies.
My word of the year for 2023 was harmonize, and my goal was to establish healthy, interdependent, equitable partnerships. I made a lot of progress toward this goal, but it wasn’t until the last few months, with the triple breakup and the self-marriage, that I really made room in my life for healthy, interdependent, equitable partnerships.
2023 turned out to be a year of figuring out what I want and need, then inexorably saying no to everything else.
My goal for 2024 is to mindfully and intentionally add awesome people and things to my life, while continuing to say no to everything else.
My word of the year for 2024 is PRAMSECTA. I don’t know why.
In keeping with my annual tradition (2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008), this New Year’s Eve I’m reflecting on everything that’s happened this year. It’s been a hell of a year.
My favorite visual media was Centaurworld, with honorable mentions to Mr. Robot, 1899, Archive 81, Arcane, United States of Tara, and Murderville.
My favorite game was, of course, Elden Ring, with thought-provoking honorable mentions to Hyperbolica, The Forgotten City, A Bewitching Revolution, and Sethian.
The most interesting fiction book I read was Battle of the Linguist Mages.
In January, I went on my first and last date with N.
In February, Lupeta moved to Tacoma and we started seeing each other every Monday. I got her a cute little pink collar with a bell on it and a leash. She was such a good kitty.
In March, Amanda and Kelly came to visit for Kyeli’s birthday.
In April, I had a parathyroidectomy. Now I’m Nearly Headless Pace (;
In May, Kyeli and I took a break. She went to Beacon, NY for six months. I met Citadel System: Katie, Sara, Esriel, Tirion, Emily, and Rusty. (although at this point most of the inner map was still uncharted) Jasmine came to stay with me for a few days, during which I had a date with Lupeta, during which Jasmine made herself scarce. Afterward, Jasmine was pleased to notice how wobbly my legs were, and it gave me a taste of poly bliss. My mom got cancer and I went to Atlanta to take care of her.
In June, I became girlfriends with Katie and Sara. Kyeli asked me to break up with Katie and I said no. I watched Mr. Robot and sent M. oodles of screenshots. Mom died. Also, I got the best massage of my entire life.
In July, M. came to visit for a long weekend, which included All-Paramours Game Night: M., Citadel, Jasmine, and Lupeta. J. asked me out. Lupeta low-key broke up with me.
In August, Kyeli and I started couples counseling.
In September, Esriel and I were at WinCo and these two cuties came up to us and said to me, “I love your hair!” We exchanged Discord info and fucked (: I had A Very Gay Getaway with Citadel. Comply.
In October, I was transported into a rainbow tunnel. For my birthday, four incredibly lovely humans came over for a game night followed by an orgy. I met Mischa and Rose. (Well, I had met Mischa several months ago, but we hadn’t gotten together in person.) Mischa invited me to Temple of Aphrodite and I signed the fuck up. Jasmine and I celebrated our 1-year anniversary. Esriel and I went on our first date.
In November, Kyeli came back to Tacoma and we tried to see if things could work out between the new Pace and the new Kyeli. A consent-related event occurred. I went to Temple of Aphrodite and it was life-changingly transformative. “Unlock my desire,” I pledged to Aphrodite, “and I will follow it/You to the ends of the earth.” Well, She gave me what I asked for, and to hold up my end of the deal, I ended my romantic relationship with Kyeli. I also broke up with Jasmine and de-escalated with J. I experienced 5meodmt and became the conscious universe, co-creating toroidal time, a golden wave of delight flowing through every feeling being, always available to tune into. It was fucking hilarious.
In December, I went to Mischa’s birthday party, and it was like a mini-Temple. I had to keep pinching myself to be sure that this is my actual life. I went hot tubbing with Rose and Citadel. I fell in love with Rose and Mischa. We watched Mischa play Portal and touched each other all day in uncountably many lovely ways. Fae pounded the shit out of me to the drum track of Playing God by Polyphia. Tirion solidified. I spent time with my extended polycule; we had lots of deepening experiences under lots of less-than-ideal circumstances.
Last year I wrote, “I’m sure the coming year will hold lots more poly excitement, and I’m sure I’ll learn more about what I want and what I need. What I need to keep in mind is to respect myself, to hold healthy boundaries, and to not settle. And that’s why my word of the year for 2022 is lemonade.” That turned out to be pretty fuckin’ prescient.
This year, I became a Priestess of Aphrodite.
This year, I finally got in touch with what I want, and took drastic action to bring my life into alignment with it.
This year, I acquired an any-time horde of adoring fans who all think I’m awesome and all want to fuck me six ways from Sunday. It is deeply satisfying to know that sex and adoration are abundant. Achievement unlocked!
Next up: healthy, interdependent, equitable partnership(s).
In the coming year, I will dive headfirst into the ocean of Aphrodisiacal love and lust, not to lose myself but to find myself. As I dive, I will take with me:
- lemonade
- interdependence
- a towel
My word of the year for 2023 is harmonize. First, I will stay in tune with myself. Then, I will harmonize with others who add richness to the melody of my mind, the rhythm of my body, and the timbre of my heart – all while staying within my own range.
In keeping with my annual tradition (2020, 2019, 2018 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008), this New Year’s Eve(ish) I’m reflecting on everything that’s happened this year. My favorite video games of the year were Dyson Sphere Program, Inscryption, Journey to the Savage Planet, Children of Morta, and Anodyne 2, with […]
In keeping with my annual tradition (2019, 2018 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008), this New Year’s Eve I’m reflecting on everything that’s happened this year. My favorite video game of 2020 was, hands-down, Astroneer. Kyeli and I had a blast playing it together, and we co-created amazing stories! Runner-up: Satisfactory. […]
In keeping with my annual tradition (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008), this New Year’s Eve I’m reflecting on everything that’s happened this year. My favorite video game was Return of the Obra Dinn. Runners up: Outer Wilds, The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker, Heaven’s Vault. My favorite book was […]
In keeping with my annual tradition (2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008), this New Year’s Eve I’m reflecting on everything that’s happened this year. Best Media of 2018 Best Youtubers of 2018: Natalie Wynn, Ian Danskin, Mark Brown. Natalie and Ian helped me feel like I’m not alone in my political […]
In keeping with my annual tradition (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008), this New Year’s Eve I’m reflecting on everything that’s happened this year. My word of the year for 2017 was warm bread with butter on it. In January, we went to a Sufi retreat, during which events transpired that caused […]
Here’s more I learned from Philip Shepherd, and everything I learned from Sheva Carr at IEA 2017. And of course, we talk about racism. Some fabulous speakers on scene, A focus on practice: that’s keen. We’re still old and white, But there’s a lot we got right at IEA 2017! Part 1: Wholeness and sensing […]
Some Enneagram Fours don’t act like “typical” Fours, and so on for all nine types. If you are one of these “atypical” folks, you might dismiss the Enneagram completely since you don’t see yourself in the typical description of the type. But perhaps it’s because you’re a countertype! Bea Chestnut will explain what a countertype […]
Some fabulous speakers on scene, A focus on practice: that’s keen. We’re still old and white, But there’s a lot we got right at IEA 2017! What is IEA 2017 and why do you care? The three centers: head, heart, and belly The enteric brain (“gut brain”) Western culture is mostly orange/rationalistic worldview: WCME 019: […]
Tracy works with parents and teenagers to develop better communication and relationship skills. She’ll teach you how you can use the Enneagram to become a better parent. (Hint: It’s not about typing your kids!) Tracy Tresidder’s one of the queens Of Enneagram work with teens. So if you want to know How to help your […]
In keeping with my annual tradition (2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008), this New Year’s Eve I’m reflecting on everything that’s happened this year. In 2016, I didn’t play much DDR. My favorite single-player video game was The Witness, deeply moving and mystical. I didn’t read any non-fiction, and my favorite fiction books […]