A Tribe, Its Members, and Their Subculture

For over a year now I’ve been a member of a tribe. As a member, I’ve met other members, learned about them,  become friends with some of them and spent absurd amounts of time around them. In fact in order to be a member of this tribe, one of the requirements is spending absurd amounts of time with other members of the tribe.

Initiation through Intoxication

Initiation into this tribe begins with the injection of a substance known to have such addictive qualities that for most members the addiction to this substance, pursuit of it and membership in this tribe end up becoming a lifelong journey.  It’s hard to determine the right time for initiation. I guess in some ways it just happens when it’s supposed to.  It’s been said by some that membership  is something that can’t be canceled. Once a member, you will always be a member. For each and every member, the meaning of their membership is something different.

The Members

Members of the tribe include men, women, and even children. Often the only thing that members have in common is their membership. However membership is a tie that binds the members so strongly that mere mention of your membership to another member will almost instantly result in a connection regardless of race, creed, color, social status or any other classification system reserved for the masses.  Sometimes members can identify each other just by the attire another member is wearing. That was my recent experience when I ran into another member of this tribe on my cruise to Mexico.

If one parent is a member, then it’s almost a certainty that membership will be passed on to  the child, and likely through multiple generations. Occasionally you will find members who have been in this tribe for multiple decades. One member has already told me of his plans for his unborn child to become a member.  The women who are members often tend to be beautiful and for some male members those female members make the only potential lifelong companions if they intend to have a healthy marriage. For many there even seems to come a point in their lives at which membership defines them and is a significant part of who they are.

Members of this tribe for the most part are among the happiest people I’ve come across on the planet. They are also for the most part welcoming. However  there are members of this tribe that do not take kindly to newer members. Some of these older members have laid claims to certain territory and newer members, regardless of their membership are not welcome in these territories. To the best of my understanding access to these territories can be earned by putting in your time as a member of the tribe.

Weather Patterns

Weather patterns seem to be something that members of this tribe seem to study almost obsessively. A study of storms, wind and all of the other various mood swings of mother nature are at the forefront of a tribe member’s mind. Members will see the wind blowing by observing leaves in trees and will wonder how it will impact their participation in the tribe that day. Members anticipate the mood swings of mother nature with child like curiosity and excitement.

Chiefs

The chiefs in this tribe are revered by everybody. They have mental and physical capabilities and courage that defy law. Members of the tribe who are initiated as children seem to be the rare few who do achieve this status later in life. These “chiefs” are known to put their lives at risk on a regular basis, and most tribe members would never dare take these kinds of risks because it would virtually guarantee death

Language, Terminology, and Communication

Along with the sub culture comes words and a language that while accepted by the outside world is really only understood by the members of this tribe.  The “lingo” of this tribe is something I’ve come to know really well in the last year and is now a large part of my life.

Non-members view of the members

Non-members don’t quite understand the members of this tribe. They seem to be full of stereotypes and labels that are rarely fitting. Dave Doolin calls non-members “The Smoke and Mirrors Brigade.” But, it’s safe to say as a member I feel somewhat super human when I’m placed next to a non-member. The truth is until a non-member has been dosed with the addictive substance that causes a member’s lifelong journey, they will never really understand.

This tribe of people around the world are known as surfers. The above ideas are just a few of the conclusions that I have come to after my first full year as a surfer.

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