the booze problem.

We all have made exceptions to the Total Local initiative. Things we need to keep us going mid-day, things we need to help keep us sane. Primarily our exceptions are coffee, tea, and, for the lucky few, cigarettes. But not booze.
I had originally thought about exceptioning it, but then decided that there should be enough local options to keep me from flinging myself overboard into the sea of dive bars and cheap beer on that first weekend in august.

So I did a little bit of research and discovered that Full Sail beer out of Hood River, OR uses all local ingredients. I have never been one to limit myself in the range of potential beers or drinks, but for August Full Sail will be my drink of choice. For some reason, I didn't look further.

On Friday I went out with my friends after a conference. We were in Woodstock, far away from our homes in NE Portland. One gal suggested we go to the Delta for food and libations. We get there only to find no Full Sail. I try to decide whether to go home, find somewhere new or break my local pledge. Standing on the street corner weighing my moral obligations, I spotted a dive down the street. I alerted my friends and darted over to find a Full Sail -- or potentially a local gin, though that seemed unlikely.

The no name dive bar crushed my moment of hope by saying no, no Full Sail and that they didn't even know there was local gin.

I walked back to the Delta, deflated. I was about to give up -- let my friends either talk me into drinking or the off chance they would be excited to go looking for a third bar option. Back at the Delta, there was good news. The bar keep at the Delta called a bar down the street after hearing of my plight. This new bar had full sail. We trucked on down and drank glorious pitchers of Full Sail beer.

Potentially it's weird to tell such a long story about tracking down beer. So let me say this, the chase was an enlightening moment about the lengths that we must go to stay Total Local. And the level of dedication it requires. But, perhaps most of all, if you don't hang around supportive people -- total local will die in it's tracks. Potentially you can be a lone total local-er if you have a will of steel, but for me -- I would have given in under the slightest pressure multiple times.


August 13. Update on this since i drafted it almost 2 weeks ago. ----


We've done our research and expanded our drinking options so that almost every place can accommodate Total Local Standards. Now included: Widmer beers [except their German], Alameda beers and Aviator Gin [Juniper berries from just east of the Cascades].

Another valid point on this issue is that the TL is not necessarily about being the healthiest people ever or restricting ourselves into misery. I don't want this campaign to be so horrible, strict and miserable that after August we all dart back to our chocolates and cumin. I want this to be sustainable and enjoyable -- that means moving slowly, not buying into rigidity and allowing ourselves the space to go out and drink beer with our friends.